Shloka 18

Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption

Devanagari script

धर्मश्चार्थश्॒ कामश्च त्रितयं जीविते फलम्‌

Transliteration

dharmaś cārthaś ca kāmaś ca tritayaṃ jīvite phalam

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Dharma, artha, dan kāma—tiga serangkai inilah buah kehidupan manusia.”

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अर्थः: wealth, purpose
• अर्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कामः: desire, pleasure
• कामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• त्रितयम्: the triad, the set of three
• त्रितयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रितय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• जीविते: in life
• जीविते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse affirms the classical triad (trivarga)—dharma (ethical duty), artha (worldly welfare), and kāma (legitimate enjoyment)—as the meaningful outcomes of human life, implying that a well-lived life integrates moral order, practical prosperity, and regulated desire.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in a reflective, inquiry-driven mode, articulating a concise principle about life’s aims as part of broader instruction on conduct and values.