Shloka 13
यज्ञेऽहिंसा-प्राधान्यम्
Primacy of Non-Harm in Sacrificial Ethics
युधिछिर उवाच शरीरमापदश्षापि विवदन्त्यविहिंसत: । कथं यात्रा शरीरस्य निरारम्भस्य सेत्स्यते
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
śarīram āpadaś cāpi vivadanty avihiṃsataḥ |
kathaṃ yātrā śarīrasya nirārambhasya setsyate ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: Kahit para sa taong tapat sa di-karahasan, wari’y nag-aaway ang katawan at ang mga panahon ng kapighatian—pinapahina ng sakuna ang katawan, samantalang ang katawan ay nagnanais na madaig ang sakuna. Paano, kung gayon, mapananatili ang paglalakbay ng katawan (ang mismong buhay) ng isang taong hindi nagsisimula ng anumang gawaing pangmundo—dahil sa takot kahit sa pinong anyo ng pananakit?
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic dilemma: absolute non-violence can conflict with the practical need to sustain the body, especially during adversity. It asks how one can live if one refuses all undertakings out of fear of causing even subtle harm.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Bhīṣma about the feasibility of strict ahiṃsā in real life. He points out that adversity pressures the body, and survival seems to require actions that may entail some degree of harm.