Shloka 21
अध्वर्यु–यति संवादः
Adhvaryu–Yati Dialogue on Svabhāva, Ahiṃsā, and Mokṣa
एक ओर तो तुम किसी प्राणीके प्राण लेनेके कार्यसे निवृत्त हो और दूसरी ओर हिंसामें लगे हुए हो। द्विजवर! कोई भी चेष्टा हिंसाके बिना नहीं होती। फिर तुम कैसे समझते हो कि तुम्हारे द्वारा अहिंसाका ही पालन हो रहा है?
ekāṃ ora to tvaṃ kasyacid prāṇinaḥ prāṇaharaṇakāryāt nivṛttaḥ, aparāṃ ca ora hiṃsāyāṃ pravṛttaḥ asi. dvijavara! na kaścid api ceṣṭā hiṃsāṃ vinā bhavati. tarhi kathaṃ tvaṃ manyase yat tvayā ahimsaiva pālyate?
バラモンは言った。「一方では、いかなる生きものの命も奪わぬと称しながら、他方ではなお暴力の領域に身を置いている。おお、二度生まれし者のうち最勝の者よ。いかなる行為も、いくらかの害なくしては成り立たぬ。しかるに、汝の実践がただ不殺・不害のみであると、どうして思いなせるのか。」
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse challenges simplistic claims of absolute non-violence by arguing that ordinary action (ceṣṭā) inevitably causes some harm; therefore, ethical life requires honest discernment about intention, necessity, and consequences rather than self-congratulation.
A brāhmaṇa speaker confronts another ‘best of the twice-born’ who claims to have renounced killing, pointing out an inconsistency: despite professing restraint, he is still implicated in violence through action itself, and is asked to justify calling his conduct pure ahimsa.