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 ||
Tubuh ini, tanpa kesedaran dan tanpa budi, tidak berbeza daripada sekadar bahan bakar. Maka, bagi mereka yang ingin melaksanakan korban suci sebagai penebusan atas kekerasan, bahan bakar itulah yang patut dianggap sebagai ‘haiwan’ korban; jika upacara dapat disempurnakan dengan bahan bakar, mengapa perlu membunuh haiwan sama sekali?
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.