Shloka 13
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिवर्गक्ष मित्रवर्गस्तथैव च । पिता, माता, भाई, पुत्र, गुरु, जाति, सम्बन्धी तथा मित्रवर्ग--ये कोई भी उसके सहायक नहीं होते ।। मृतं शरीरमुत्सज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं जना:
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca:
Jñāti-sambandhi-vargaś ca mitra-vargas tathaiva ca |
Pitā mātā bhrātā putro guruḥ jātiḥ sambandhī tathā mitra-vargaḥ—ete ke 'pi tasya sahāyakā na bhavanti ||
Mṛtaṃ śarīram utsṛjya kāṣṭha-loṣṭa-samaṃ janāḥ ...
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Baik lingkaran sanak-kerabat maupun lingkaran sahabat tidak sungguh menjadi penopang. Ayah, ibu, saudara, putra, guru, kaum, kerabat, dan sahabat—pada saat penentuan, tiada satu pun yang dapat menyertai atau menyelamatkan. Ketika nyawa telah pergi, orang meninggalkan jasad, menganggapnya tak lebih dari sepotong kayu atau segumpal tanah.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
At the final boundary of life, social supports—family, clan, and friends—cannot accompany or ultimately protect a person; therefore one should cultivate dharma and inner steadiness rather than relying on worldly ties.
Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the limits of human relationships in the face of death, emphasizing that once life is gone people leave the body behind as something inert, underscoring impermanence and the need for ethical, spiritual preparation.