Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

देवकार्यमकृत्वा तु पितृकार्यमथापि वा । अनिर्वाप्य समश्नन्‌ वै मृतो जायति वायस:,जो देवकार्य अथवा पितृकार्य न करके बलि-वैश्वदेव किये बिना ही अन्न ग्रहण करता है, वह मरनेके बाद कौएकी योनिमें जन्म लेता है

Transliteration

devakāryam akṛtvā tu pitṛkāryam athāpi vā | anirvāpyā samaśnan vai mṛto jāyati vāyasaḥ ||

Translation

یُدھِشٹھِر نے کہا—جو شخص دیوتاؤں کا کام یا پِتروں کا کام کیے بغیر، بَلی اور ویشودیو وغیرہ کی نذر چڑھائے بغیر ہی کھانا کھائے، وہ مرنے کے بعد کوّے کی یونی میں پیدا ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

देवकार्यम्duty/rite for the gods

अकृत्वाhaving not done

तुbut/indeed

पितृकार्यम्duty/rite for the ancestors

अथor/then

अपिalso/even

वाor

अनिर्वाप्यwithout offering (oblations)/without making the bali-offering

समश्नन्eating/partaking (food)

वैindeed

मृतःdead (having died)

जायतिis born

वायसःa crow

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

devas (gods)

pitṛs (ancestors)

vāyasa (crow)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Food should not be consumed as mere private enjoyment; one must first honor obligations to the gods and ancestors through prescribed offerings (such as bali and vaiśvadeva). Neglecting these duties is presented as adharma with karmic consequences, symbolized by rebirth as a crow.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira voices a dharma statement about proper conduct before eating, emphasizing ritual gratitude and responsibility toward devas and pitṛs, and warning of an unfavorable rebirth for those who ignore these practices.