Shloka 20
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
Devanagari script
मृतं शरीरं हि नृणां सूक्ष्ममव्यक्ततां गतम्
Transliteration
mṛtaṃ śarīraṃ hi nṛṇāṃ sūkṣmam avyaktatāṃ gatam
Translation
मृतं शरीरं हि नृणां सूक्ष्ममव्यक्ततां गतम् ।
Word by Word
मृतम्dead
मृतम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमृत (√मृ)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
शरीरम्body
शरीरम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशरीर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
नृणाम्of men/of humans
नृणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootनृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सूक्ष्मम्subtle
सूक्ष्मम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसूक्ष्म
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अव्यक्तताम्unmanifest state
अव्यक्तताम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअव्यक्तता
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गतम्gone/attained
गतम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगत (√गम्)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Y
YudhiṣṭhiraN
nṛ (human beings)Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that after death the body no longer remains in a gross, visible condition; it becomes subtle and unmanifest. This supports an ethical stance of non-attachment and clear discernment about the transient nature of embodied life.
Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking in a reflective, doctrinal context within the Anuśāsana Parva, invoking the nature of the body after death to ground a discussion on right understanding and conduct (dharma) in the face of mortality.