Shloka 35
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 ।। जनक उवाच कानि कर्माणि धर्म्याणि लोके5स्मिन् द्विजसत्तम । न हिंसन्तीह भूतानि क्रियमाणानि सर्वदा
Janaka uvāca: kāni karmāṇi dharmyāṇi loke 'smin dvijasattama | na hiṃsantīha bhūtāni kriyamāṇāni sarvadā ||
జనకుడు అన్నాడు—హే ద్విజశ్రేష్ఠా! ఈ లోకంలో ధర్మ్యమైన కర్మలు ఏవి—ఎల్లప్పుడూ చేసినా ప్రాణులకు హింస కలగనివి?
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.