Shloka 15
अध्वर्यु–यति संवादः
Adhvaryu–Yati Dialogue on Svabhāva, Ahiṃsā, and Mokṣa
Devanagari script
इन्धनस्य तु तुल्येन शरीरेण विचेतसा । हिंसानिर्वेष्टकामानामिन्धनं पशुसंज्ञितम्
Transliteration
indhanasya tu tulyena śarīreṇa vicetasā | hiṃsā-nirveṣṭa-kāmānām indhanaṃ paśu-saṃjñitam ||
Translation
此身无知无觉、无心无识，与柴薪并无差别。因此，凡欲以祭祀来赎补杀害之罪者，当以柴薪本身为“祭牲”；若仪式以柴薪即可成就，又何必再行杀生？
Word by Word
इन्धनस्यof fuel
इन्धनस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्धन
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
तुल्येनequal (to)
तुल्येन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootतुल्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
शरीरेणwith/by the body
शरीरेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशरीर
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
विचेतसाunconscious, devoid of awareness
विचेतसा:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootविचेतस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
हिंसाof violence
हिंसा:
TypeNoun
Rootहिंसा
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
निर्वेष्टexpiation/undoing (lit. unwrapping, removal)
निर्वेष्ट:
TypeNoun
Rootनिर्वेष्ट
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
कामानाम्of those desiring
कामानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
इन्धनम्fuel
इन्धनम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootइन्धन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
पशुanimal/victim (sacrificial animal)
पशु:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपशु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संज्ञितम्designated/called
संज्ञितम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसंज्ञि (सम्+ज्ञा)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Characters & Entities
ब
ब्राह्मण (speaker)इ
इन्धन (fuel/firewood)श
शरीर (body)प
पशु (sacrificial animal/victim)य
यज्ञ (sacrifice, implied)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse argues for non-violence in ritual: since an unconscious body is like inert fuel, one should treat fuel as the ‘sacrificial animal’ and avoid actual animal-killing, especially when the rite is sought as expiation for violence.
A Brahmin speaker presents an ethical reasoning within a discussion on sacrifice and expiation, challenging the necessity of animal sacrifice by proposing a symbolic or non-violent substitute.