Shloka 23
अहिंसेति यदुक्तं हि पुरुषैर्विस्मितै: पुरा । के न हिंसन्ति जीवान् वै लोके5स्मिन् द्विजसत्तम । बहु संचित्य इति वै नास्ति कश्चिदहिंसक:,'पूर्वकालके अभिमानशूब्य श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंने जो अहिंसाका उपदेश किया है (उसका तत्त्व समझना चाहिये; क्योंकि) द्विजश्रेष्ठ! (स्थूल दृष्टिसे देखा जाय तो) इस संसारमें कौन जीवहिंसा नहीं करते हैं? बहुत सोच-विचारकर मैं इस निश्चयपर पहुँचा हूँ कि कोई भी (क्रियाशील मनुष्य) अहिंसक नहीं है
ahiṃseti yad uktaṃ hi puruṣair vismitaiḥ purā | ke na hiṃsanti jīvān vai loke 'smin dvijasattama | bahu saṃcitya iti vai nāsti kaścid ahiṃsakaḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata— “Wahai yang terbaik di antara kaum dwija, dahulu orang-orang mulia—seakan diliputi keheranan—mengajarkan, ‘Ahiṃsā!’ Namun di dunia ini, siapakah yang sungguh tidak melukai makhluk hidup? Setelah banyak merenung, aku sampai pada kesimpulan: tiada seorang pun yang bergiat dalam kehidupan duniawi sepenuhnya tanpa kekerasan.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mārkaṇḍeya challenges a simplistic slogan of absolute non-violence by pointing out that ordinary worldly activity inevitably entails some harm to living beings. The ethical thrust is to cultivate discernment and humility: one should value ahiṃsā as an ideal, yet recognize the practical complexity of action and the need to weigh duties and consequences within dharma.
In a didactic exchange within the Vana Parva, the sage Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a brāhmaṇa (dvijasattama) and reflects on earlier teachings that praised non-violence. He argues, from observation and contemplation, that in the lived world no active person can claim perfect non-violence, setting up a nuanced discussion of dharma and conduct.