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Shloka 38

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

यदि धर्म यथाशक्ति जन्मप्रभूति सेवते | ततः स पुरुषो भूत्वा सेवते नित्यदा सुखम्‌

yadi dharmaṃ yathāśakti janmaprabhṛti sevate | tataḥ sa puruṣo bhūtvā sevate nityadā sukham ||

اگر انسان زندگی کے آغاز ہی سے اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق دھرم کی خدمت اور پیروی کرے تو وہ واقعی لائقِ انسان بن کر ہمیشہ سکھ میں رہتا ہے۔

यदिif
यदि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि
धर्मम्dharma, righteous duty
धर्मम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यथाशक्तिaccording to one's ability
यथाशक्ति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा-शक्ति
जन्मप्रभृतिfrom birth onward
जन्मप्रभृति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootजन्म-प्रभृति
सेवतेserves, practices, follows
सेवते:
TypeVerb
Rootसेव्
FormLat, Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular
ततःthen, thereafter; from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
सःhe, that person
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुरुषःman, person
पुरुषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भूत्वाhaving become
भूत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormAbsolutive (Ktva), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral
सेवतेenjoys, experiences; serves
सेवते:
TypeVerb
Rootसेव्
FormLat, Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular
नित्यदाalways
नित्यदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्यदा
सुखम्happiness, comfort
सुखम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसुख
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

Consistent practice of dharma from early life, within one’s actual capacity (yathāśakti), forms true character and yields enduring well-being; ethical effort, not mere status, is presented as the basis of lasting happiness.

In the instruction-focused Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in a reflective, inquiry-driven mode about the fruits of righteous conduct, emphasizing that lifelong adherence to dharma results in continual happiness.