Shloka 23
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाहिंसा परं तप: । अहिंसा परम सत्यं यतो धर्म: प्रवर्तते,अहिंसा परम धर्म है, अहिंसा परम तप है और अहिंसा परम सत्य है; क्योंकि उसीसे धर्मकी प्रवृत्ति होती है
ahiṃsā paramo dharmas tathāhiṃsā paraṃ tapaḥ | ahiṃsā parama satyaṃ yato dharmaḥ pravartate ||
اہنسا ہی سب سے بڑا دھرم ہے؛ اہنسا ہی سب سے بڑی تپسیا ہے۔ اہنسا ہی اعلیٰ ترین سچ ہے، کیونکہ دھرم کی حرکت اور نشوونما اسی اہنسا سے ہوتی ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ahiṃsā (non-violence) is declared the supreme foundation of ethical life: it is the highest dharma, the highest tapas (self-discipline), and the highest satya (truth). The verse asserts that dharma genuinely operates and grows only when rooted in non-injury.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma, speaking as a teacher of dharma, delivers concise maxims to guide conduct. Here he emphasizes ahiṃsā as the central principle underlying other virtues and the functioning of dharma itself.