Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 176
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
नर: करोत्यकार्याणि परार्थे लोभमोहितः । जो बहुश्रुत नहीं है, वही मनुष्य लोभ और मोहके वशीभूत हो दूसरेके लिये लोभ, मोह, दया अथवा भयसे न करने योग्य पापकर्म कर बैठता है
naraḥ karoty akāryāṇi parārthe lobhamohitaḥ |
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Ang tao, kapag binulag ng kasakiman at nilamon ng pagkalito, ay gumagawa ng mga bagay na hindi dapat gawin—kahit pa sa ngalan ng ‘para sa kapakanan ng iba’.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when an act is justified as being ‘for someone else,’ greed-born delusion can lead a person to commit akārya (unlawful/unethical deeds). Dharma requires discernment and restraint, not rationalizing wrongdoing as service.
In the Anuśāsana-parvan’s instruction-focused dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks a general ethical observation: people, when overcome by lobha and moha, may perform prohibited acts under the banner of benefiting another.