Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
अहिंसालक्षणो धर्म इति धर्मविदो विदु: । यदहिंसात्मकं कर्म तत् कुर्यादात्मवान् नर:,धर्मज्ञ पुरुष यह जानते हैं कि अहिंसा ही धर्मका लक्षण है। मनस्वी पुरुष वही कर्म करे, जो अहिंसात्मक हो
Bhīṣma uvāca: ahiṃsālakṣaṇo dharma iti dharmavido viduḥ | yad ahiṃsātmakam karma tat kuryād ātmavān naraḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang mga tunay na nakaaalam ng dharma ay nauunawaan na ang ahimsa—ang di-karahasan—ang pangunahing tanda nito. Kaya ang taong may pagpipigil-sa-sarili at may budhi ay dapat gumawa lamang ng gawaing nakaugat sa di-karahasan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ahimsa (non-violence) is presented as the defining criterion of dharma; hence one should choose and perform only those actions that are non-injurious in their nature and intent.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he states a general ethical principle for conduct: the wise recognize non-violence as the hallmark of righteousness, and a disciplined person should act accordingly.