Shloka 72
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
सस्यस्यान्यस्य हर्ता च मोहाज्जन्तुरचेतन: । स जायते महाराज मूषिको निरपत्रप:
sasyasyānyasya hartā ca mohāj jantur acetanaḥ | sa jāyate mahārāja mūṣiko nirapatrapaḥ ||
اے مہاراج! جو شخص حیا کو ترک کر کے جہالت اور فریبِ نفس کے زیرِ اثر دھان، جو، تل، اُڑد، کُلَتھی، سرسوں، چنا، مٹر، مونگ، گندم، تیسی اور دوسرے اناج چراتا ہے، وہ مرنے کے بعد پہلے چوہا بن کر پیدا ہوتا ہے—فطرتاً بےحیا۔
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Stealing essential produce under the sway of delusion is adharma; when shame and discernment are abandoned, the karmic result is a degraded rebirth—here, as a mouse—symbolizing furtiveness and shameless taking.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a ‘great king’ while discussing ethical consequences of actions. He states a specific karmic फल (result): one who steals grain and similar goods due to मोह (delusion) is reborn as a mūṣika (mouse).