Shloka 22
अध्याय १५२: लोभः पापस्य मूलम् — Greed as the Root of Wrongdoing
जनमेजय उवाच नैव वाचा न मनसा पुनर्जातु न कर्मणा । द्रोग्धास्मि ब्राह्मणान् विप्र चरणावपि ते स्पृशे
janamejaya uvāca naiva vācā na manasā punar jātu na karmaṇā | drogdhāsmi brāhmaṇān vipra caraṇāv api te spṛśe ||
جنمیجَے نے کہا—اے برہمنوں میں برتر! میں آپ کے دونوں قدم چھو کر قسم کھاتا ہوں کہ نہ زبان سے، نہ دل سے، نہ عمل سے—میں پھر کبھی برہمنوں کے خلاف دغا و دشمنی نہ کروں گا۔
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical restraint must be complete: one should avoid wrongdoing not only in actions but also in speech and even in intention (mind). The verse frames this as a solemn vow of non-harm toward Brahmins, emphasizing integrity across thought, word, and deed.
King Janamejaya addresses a Brahmin (vipra) with humility, physically touching the Brahmin’s feet as a sign of reverence, and declares a firm pledge that he will never again act with hostility toward Brahmins—an assurance meant to restore trust and align himself with dharma.