Shloka 21
Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka
Book 14, Chapter 43
अहिंसा परमो धर्मो हिंसा चाधर्मलक्षणा । प्रकाशलक्षणा देवा मनुष्या: कर्मलक्षणा:
ahiṃsā paramo dharmo hiṃsā cādharmalakṣaṇā | prakāśalakṣaṇā devā manuṣyāḥ karmalakṣaṇāḥ ||
वायू म्हणाला—आता मी सर्व प्राण्यांच्या नियत कर्तव्यांची लक्षणे सांगतो. अहिंसा हा परम धर्म; हिंसा हे अधर्माचे लक्षण. देव तेजाने ओळखले जातात आणि मनुष्य कर्माने—विशेषतः यज्ञादि विधिकर्मांनी।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ahiṃsā (non-violence) as the supreme form of dharma and identifies hiṃsā (violence) as a defining mark of adharma, while also distinguishing the natures of gods (radiance) and humans (duty-bound action/karma).
Vāyudeva is speaking and begins a didactic explanation of the characteristic signs of established duties (niyata-dharma) for different classes of beings, framing an ethical hierarchy with non-violence at the top.