Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
श्वा ततो जायते मूढ: कर्मणा तेन पार्थिव । भूत्वा श्वा पज्च वर्षाणि ततो जायति मानव:,पृथ्वीनाथ! फिर उसी कर्मसे वह मूढ़ जीव कुत्ता होता है और पाँच वर्षतक कुत्ता रहकर अन्तमें मनुष्यका जन्म पाता है
śvā tato jāyate mūḍhaḥ karmaṇā tena pārthiva | bhūtvā śvā pañca varṣāṇi tato jāyati mānavaḥ ||
Hỡi chúa tể cõi đất, bởi chính nghiệp ấy, kẻ mê muội kia sinh làm chó. Sống làm chó năm năm, rồi cuối cùng lại được sinh làm người.
युधिछिर उवाच
Actions (karma) have concrete consequences across births; harmful or deluded conduct can lead to a degrading rebirth, yet the result is not necessarily permanent—after undergoing the karmic fruition, the being may return to human birth.
Yudhiṣṭhira explains to a king that due to a previously mentioned misdeed, a soul is reborn as a dog, remains in that state for five years, and afterward attains human birth again—illustrating karmic retribution and the cycle of transmigration.