Shloka 13
परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269
य एव प्रथम: कल्पस्तमेवाभ्याचरन् सह । तेषां नासीद् विधातव्यं प्रायश्षित्तं कदाचन
ya eva prathamaḥ kalpastam evābhyācaran saha | teṣāṁ nāsīd vidhātavyaṁ prāyaścittaṁ kadācana ||
ಕಪಿಲನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಧರ್ಮದ ಮೊದಲನೆಯದು, ಮೂಲವಾದ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಾವದೋ ಅದನ್ನೇ ಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಆಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಪ್ರಾಯಶ್ಚಿತ್ತವನ್ನು ವಿಧಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಮಾಡುವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಸಂದರ್ಭವೇ ಬಂದಿಲ್ಲ.
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
When conduct aligns with the original and highest standard of dharma, wrongdoing does not arise; therefore expiation (prāyaścitta) becomes unnecessary. The verse highlights prevention through right living rather than correction after moral failure.
Kapila describes an earlier condition of society (or a class of people) who collectively followed the primordial rule of life. Because their shared practice remained faultless, there was never any need to institute or undertake penances.