Shloka 23
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
विकर्मणा तप्यमान: पापादू विपरिमुच्यते । नैतत् कार्य पुनरिति द्वितीयात् परिमुच्यते
vikarmaṇā tapyamānaḥ pāpād vai parimucyate | naitat kāryaṃ punar iti dvitīyāt parimucyate ||
Śaunaka berkata: “Sesiapa yang diseksa oleh penyesalan setelah melakukan perbuatan yang bertentangan dengan śāstra, dibebaskan daripada dosa melalui penderitaan taubat itu. Dan jika kesalahan itu berlaku kali kedua, seseorang menjadi bebas daripadanya dengan azam yang teguh: ‘Aku tidak akan melakukannya lagi.’”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sin arising from vikarma is mitigated through sincere remorse (inner ‘burning’ that functions as penance), and lasting moral recovery is secured by a clear vow of non-repetition—especially when the same fault threatens to recur.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Śaunaka states a rule of ethical repair: wrongdoing should be met first with genuine repentance, and if repeated, with a decisive commitment to stop—presenting a practical path of prāyaścitta and self-discipline.