Shloka 34
Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)
एतामहिंसां यज्ञेषु ब्रूयास्त्वं सततं प्रभो । प्रीतास्ततो भविष्यामो वयं तु द्विजसत्तम
etām ahiṃsāṃ yajñeṣu brūyās tvaṃ satataṃ prabho | prītās tato bhaviṣyāmo vayaṃ tu dvijasattama ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O lord, you should always proclaim this principle of non-violence in connection with sacrifices. Then we shall be pleased—O best among the twice-born.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges that ahiṃsā (non-violence) should be consistently affirmed even within the context of yajña (sacrificial ritual), framing ritual practice as accountable to ethical restraint and compassion.
In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, a respected figure is addressed and requested to continually teach or proclaim non-violence in relation to sacrificial rites, with the speakers expressing that such instruction will satisfy and please them.