Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 23
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
त्रिविधानीह वृत्तानि नरस्याहुर्मनीषिण: । पुण्यमन्यत् पापमन्यन्न पुण्यं न च पापकम्,इस जगत्में मनीषी पुरुषोंने मनुष्यके तीन प्रकारके आचरण बतलाये हैं--पुण्यमय, पापमय तथा पुण्य-पाप दोनोंसे रहित
trividhānīha vṛttāni narasyāhur manīṣiṇaḥ | puṇyam anyat pāpam anyan na puṇyaṃ na ca pāpakam ||
ਇਸ ਜਗਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਨੀਸ਼ੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਵਰਤਾਓ ਤਿੰਨ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ—ਇੱਕ ਪੁੰਨਮਈ, ਦੂਜਾ ਪਾਪਮਈ, ਅਤੇ ਤੀਜਾ ਜੋ ਨਾ ਪੁੰਨ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਪਾਪ।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human conduct can be classified into three ethical types: (1) actions that generate merit (puṇya), (2) actions that generate sin (pāpa), and (3) actions that are free from both—suggesting a higher mode of living marked by non-attachment and transcendence of moral dualities.
Vyāsa is instructing by summarizing a doctrinal classification taught by the wise: he frames human behavior within a threefold ethical scheme, preparing the listener to understand how different kinds of action bind, purify, or leave one unbound.