Shloka 20
Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka
Book 14, Chapter 43
अत ऊर्ध्व॑ प्रवक्ष्यामि नियतं धर्मलक्षणम्,अब मैं सबके नियत धर्मके लक्षणोंका वर्णन करता हूँ। अहिंसा सबसे श्रेष्ठ धर्म है और हिंसा अधर्मका लक्षण (स्वरूप) है। प्रकाश देवताओंका और यज्ञ आदि कर्म मनुष्योंका लक्षण है
ata ūrdhvaṁ pravakṣyāmi niyataṁ dharma-lakṣaṇam | ahiṁsā sarva-śreṣṭho dharmaḥ hiṁsā cādharmalakṣaṇam | prakāśo devatānāṁ lakṣaṇaṁ yajñādi-karma manuṣyāṇāṁ lakṣaṇam ||
Vāyu disse: “Agora declararei os sinais estabelecidos pelos quais se reconhece o dharma. A não violência (ahiṃsā) é o dharma supremo, ao passo que a violência é o sinal definidor do adharma. O fulgor é a característica dos deuses, e os sacrifícios (yajña) e ritos afins são a atividade característica dos seres humanos.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines dharma by its distinguishing marks: ahiṁsā (non-violence) is upheld as the supreme form of dharma, while hiṁsā (violence) is identified as the hallmark of adharma. It also contrasts divine and human spheres: gods are characterized by radiance, whereas humans are characterized by performing yajña and related prescribed rites.
Vāyudeva is speaking as a moral instructor, announcing that he will set forth an authoritative description of dharma’s defining characteristics. The statement functions as a doctrinal clarification within the Ashvamedhika Parva’s broader post-war ethical and religious reflections.