Shloka 35
अव्यक्त-प्रबोधः (Awakening to the Unmanifest): The 25th and 26th Principles and Eligibility for Brahma-vidyā
जातिसे श्रेष्ठ पुरुष भी यदि निन्दित कर्म करता है तो वह कर्म उसे कलंकित कर देता है; इसलिये किसी भी दृष्टिसे बुरा कर्म करना अच्छा नहीं है ।।
Janaka uvāca: kāni karmāṇi dharmyāṇi loke 'smin dvijasattama | na hiṃsantīha bhūtāni kriyamāṇāni sarvadā ||
ਜਨਕ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਦ੍ਵਿਜਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ! ਇਸ ਲੋਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹੜੇ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਹਨ—ਜੋ ਸਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਤੇ ਵੀ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਿੰਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਉਂਦੇ?
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as action measured by its impact on living beings: Janaka seeks deeds that can be performed consistently without causing harm, highlighting ahiṃsā (non-injury) as a central ethical criterion.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional dialogue, King Janaka addresses a foremost brāhmaṇa and asks for guidance on which worldly actions qualify as truly dharmic—specifically those that do not injure creatures—setting up a discussion on righteous conduct and restraint.