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Shloka 101

Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption

पायसं चोरयित्वा तु तित्तिरित्वमवाप्तुते हृत्वा पिष्टमयं पूपं कुम्भोलूक: प्रजायते,खीरकी चोरी करनेवाला तीतरकी योनिमें जन्म लेता है। आटेका पूआ चुराकर मनुष्य मरनेके बाद उल्लू होता है

pāyasaṃ corayitvā tu tittiritvam avāpnute | hṛtvā piṣṭamayaṃ pūpaṃ kumbholūkaḥ prajāyate ||

ผู้ใดขโมยปายสะ (ข้าวน้ำนมหวาน/คีร์) ย่อมได้ไปเกิดเป็นนกติตติริ (นกพาร์ทริดจ์) และผู้ใดขโมยปูปะที่ทำด้วยแป้ง ครั้นตายแล้ว ย่อมไปเกิดเป็นกุมโภลูกะ (นกฮูก)

पायसम्rice-milk pudding
पायसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपायस
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चोरयित्वाhaving stolen
चोरयित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootचुर् (चोरयति)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (causative stem), Gerund (having stolen)
तुindeed/but
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
तित्तिरित्वम्the state of being a partridge
तित्तिरित्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतित्तिरि-त्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अवाप्तुतेattains/obtains
अवाप्तुते:
TypeVerb
Rootआप् (अव-आप्)
FormPresent, Indicative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
हृत्वाhaving taken away/stolen
हृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootहृ (हरति)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), Gerund (having taken away)
पिष्टमयम्made of flour/dough
पिष्टमयम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपिष्ट + मय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पूपम्cake/fritter
पूपम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपूप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
कुम्भोलूकःowl (lit. pot-owl; a kind of owl)
कुम्भोलूकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकुम्भोलूक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रजायतेis born/comes to be
प्रजायते:
TypeVerb
Rootजन् (प्र-जा)
FormPresent, Indicative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
P
pāyasa
P
pūpa
T
tittiri (partridge)
K
kumbholūka (owl)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches asteya (non-stealing) by illustrating that theft leads to karmic retribution, here described as rebirth into specific animal forms, emphasizing that even seemingly small thefts carry moral and spiritual consequences.

In a didactic exchange within the Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira states examples of karmic results: stealing pāyasa leads to partridge-birth, and stealing a flour-cake leads to owl-birth, as part of a broader discussion on conduct and the fruits of actions.