Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 54
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
मनसापि गुरोर्भार्या यः शिष्यो याति पापकृत् । स उग्रान् प्रैति संसारानधर्मेणेह चेतसा
manasāpi guror bhāryāṁ yaḥ śiṣyo yāti pāpakṛt | sa ugrān praiti saṁsārān adharmeṇeha cetasā ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kahit sa isip lamang, ang alagad na tumungo sa asawa ng kanyang guro ay nagkakasala. Sa gayong masamang hangarin dito pa lamang, siya’y mapapasa mga kakila-kilabot na ikot ng muling pagsilang, isisilang sa mga sinapupunan at kalagayang nakapanghihilakbot.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ethical transgression begins at the level of intention: even mentally entertaining desire toward one’s teacher’s wife violates dharma and generates grave karmic consequences.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on conduct and dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira states a strict rule of guru-śiṣya propriety: a disciple who even contemplates intimacy with the guru’s wife is deemed sinful and destined for harsh rebirths.