Shloka 49
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
पतितं याजयित्वा तु कृमियोनौ प्रजायते । तत्र जीवति वर्षाणि दश पञ्च च भारत
patitaṃ yājayitvā tu kṛmiyonau prajāyate | tatra jīvati varṣāṇi daśa pañca ca bhārata ||
یُدھِشٹھِر نے کہا—اے بھارت! جو برہمن پَتِت (گِرا ہوا) شخص کے لیے یَجْن کراتا ہے، وہ مرنے کے بعد کیڑوں کی یَونی میں پیدا ہوتا ہے اور وہاں پندرہ برس جیتا ہے۔
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a priest’s complicity in conducting rites for someone deemed ritually fallen (patita) is itself a serious adharma, bringing harsh karmic retribution—rebirth in a low form (worms) for a fixed period—thereby stressing responsibility and discernment in religious service.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction context, Yudhiṣṭhira states a specific consequence for the act of officiating a sacrifice for a patita, addressing “Bhārata,” and quantifies the resulting low rebirth as lasting fifteen years.