Shloka 15
अध्वर्यु–यति संवादः
Adhvaryu–Yati Dialogue on Svabhāva, Ahiṃsā, and Mokṣa
इन्धनस्य तु तुल्येन शरीरेण विचेतसा । हिंसानिर्वेष्टकामानामिन्धनं पशुसंज्ञितम्
indhanasya tu tulyena śarīreṇa vicetasā | hiṃsā-nirveṣṭa-kāmānām indhanaṃ paśu-saṃjñitam ||
हे चेतनाशून्य, जड शरीर इंधनासारखेच आहे. म्हणून हिंसेच्या प्रायश्चित्तासाठी यज्ञ करणाऱ्यांसाठी इंधनच ‘पशु’ मानावे; जे कार्य इंधनानेच साध्य होते, त्यासाठी पशुहिंसा कशाला?
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues for non-violence in ritual: since an unconscious body is like inert fuel, one should treat fuel as the ‘sacrificial animal’ and avoid actual animal-killing, especially when the rite is sought as expiation for violence.
A Brahmin speaker presents an ethical reasoning within a discussion on sacrifice and expiation, challenging the necessity of animal sacrifice by proposing a symbolic or non-violent substitute.