Shloka 13
परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269
य एव प्रथम: कल्पस्तमेवाभ्याचरन् सह । तेषां नासीद् विधातव्यं प्रायश्षित्तं कदाचन,जो प्रथम श्रेणीका धर्म माना जाता था, उसीका वे सब लोग साथ रहकर आचरण करते थे, अतः उनके सामने कभी प्रायश्चित्त करनेका अवसर नहीं आता था
ya eva prathamaḥ kalpastam evābhyācaran saha | teṣāṁ nāsīd vidhātavyaṁ prāyaścittaṁ kadācana ||
कपिल उवाच—य एव प्रथमः कल्पो धर्मस्य स एव तैः संहत्य समाचर्यत। तस्मात् तेषां कदाचन प्रायश्चित्तं विधातुं वा कर्तुं वा अवसरः नाभवत्।
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
When conduct aligns with the original and highest standard of dharma, wrongdoing does not arise; therefore expiation (prāyaścitta) becomes unnecessary. The verse highlights prevention through right living rather than correction after moral failure.
Kapila describes an earlier condition of society (or a class of people) who collectively followed the primordial rule of life. Because their shared practice remained faultless, there was never any need to institute or undertake penances.