Shloka 16
कर्मनाशाभावः, गर्भे जीवप्रवेशः, आचारधर्मोपदेशः
Karma’s Non-Extinction, Jīva’s Entry into the Embryo, and Instruction on Conduct-Dharma
संयमाश्चानृशंस्यं च परस्वादानवर्जनम् व्यलीकानामकरणं भूतानां मनसा भुवि
saṁyamāś cānṛśaṁsyaṁ ca parasvādānavarjanam vyalīkānām akaraṇaṁ bhūtānāṁ manasā bhuvi | dānaṁ vrataṁ brahmacaryaṁ śāstroktarītise vedādhyayanaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ śāntiḥ sarvapāṇibhūteṣu dayā cittasaṁyamaḥ mārdavaṁ paradhanagrahaṇecchātyāgaḥ saṁsārabhūtānāṁ manasāpy ahitākaraṇam mātāpitr̥śuśrūṣā devātithigurupūjanam dayā śaucaṁ sadendriyajayaḥ śubhakarmapracāraṇaṁ ca—etat satpuruṣācāra ucyate | etadanuṣṭhānād dharmo bhavati yaḥ sadā prajāvarge rakṣāṁ karoti ||
ब्राह्मण उवाच—संयमश्चानृशंस्यं च परस्वादानवर्जनम्। व्यलीकानामकरणं भूतानां मनसा भुवि॥ दानं व्रतं ब्रह्मचर्यं शास्त्रोक्तेनैव कर्मणा। वेदाध्ययनमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः प्रशमः कृपा॥ मनोनिग्रहः सौम्यत्वं परधनाभिलाषितः। मातापित्रोश्च शुश्रूषा देवतातिथिपूजनम्॥ गुरुपूजा शौचमित्येतत् नित्यमिन्द्रियसंयमः। शुभानां प्रवर्तनं चैव सतां वृत्तमुदाहृतम्॥ एतेषामनुष्ठानाद् धर्मः प्रभवति, स च धर्मः सदा प्रजाः पाति॥
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Noble conduct (satpuruṣācāra) consists of mental and bodily self-restraint, non-cruelty, truthfulness/non-deceit, non-appropriation of others’ wealth, compassion to all beings, purity, honoring parents/guests/teachers, and disciplined Vedic practice; such observance generates dharma, which in turn safeguards society.
A brāhmaṇa speaker delivers a didactic list of virtues and observances, defining the ethical code of the ‘best people’ and asserting its social function: dharma born from these practices protects the populace.