Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.177

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13.177.1

अहिंसा परमो धर्म इत्युक्तं बहुशस्त्वया ।
श्राद्धेषु च भवानाह पितॄणां मांसमीप्सितम् ॥ १३.१७७.१ ॥

You have often said that non-violence is the highest duty, yet in the śrāddha rites you said that the ancestors desire meat.

13.177.2

मांसैर्बहुविधैः प्रोक्तस्त्वया श्राद्धविधिः पुरा ।
अहत्वा च कुतो मांसमेवमेतद्विरुध्यते ॥ १३.१७७.२ ॥

Formerly you described the śrāddha rite with many kinds of meat. Without killing, how is meat obtained? This seems contradictory.

13.177.3

जातो नः संशयो धर्मे मांसस्य परिवर्जने ।
दोषो भक्षयत कः स्यात्कश्चाभक्षयतो गुणः ॥ १३.१७७.३ ॥

A doubt has arisen in us about the duty of abstaining from meat: what is the fault of one who eats it, and what is the merit of one who does not?

13.177.4

हत्वा भक्षयतो वाऽपि परेणोपहृतस्य वा ।
हन्याद्वा यः परस्यार्थे क्रीत्वा वा भक्षयेन्नरः ॥ १३.१७७.४ ॥

A man who kills and eats, or eats what another has brought, or kills for another's sake, or buys and eats—

13.177.5

एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन कथ्यमानं त्वयाऽनघ ।
निश्चयेन चिकीर्षामि धर्ममेतं सनातनम् ॥ १३.१७७.५ ॥

O sinless one, I wish to hear this truly from you, so that I may practise this eternal duty with certainty.

13.177.6

कथमायुरवाप्नोति कथं भवति सत्ववान् ।
कथमव्यङ्गतामेति लक्षण्यो जायते कथम् ॥ १३.१७७.६ ॥

How does a man attain long life? How does he become strong in vitality? How does he attain wholeness of limbs? And how is he born endowed with auspicious marks?

13.177.7

मांसस्याभक्षणाद्राजन्यो धर्मः कुरुनन्दन ।
तं मे शृणु यथातत्त्वं यश्चास्य विधिरुत्तमः ॥ १३.१७७.७ ॥

O king, O delight of the Kurus, the warrior's duty comes from not eating meat. Hear it from me as it truly is, and hear too its supreme rule.

13.177.8

रूपमव्यङ्गतामायुर्बुद्धिं सत्वं बलं स्मृतिम् ।
प्राप्तुकामैर्नरैर्हिंसा वर्जनीया कृतात्मभिः ॥ १३.१७७.८ ॥

Men who desire beauty, soundness of limb, long life, intelligence, goodness of nature, strength and memory, and who are self-controlled, must avoid violence.

13.177.9

ऋषीणामत्र संवादो बहुशः कुरुनन्दन ।
बभूव तेषां तु मतं यत्तच्छृणु युधिष्ठिर ॥ १३.१७७.९ ॥

O delight of the Kurus, on this matter there were many dialogues among the sages. O Yudhiṣṭhira, hear the opinion they held.

13.177.10

यो यजेताश्वमेधेन मासिमासि यतव्रतः ।
वर्जयेन्मधु मांसं च सममेतद्युधिष्ठिर ॥ १३.१७७.१० ॥

He who, firm in his vow, performs the horse sacrifice month after month, and he who gives up honey and meat — these two, O Yudhiṣṭhira, are equal.

13.177.11

सप्तर्षयो वालखिल्यास्तथैव च मरीचिपाः ।
मांसस्याभक्षणं राजन्प्रशंसन्ति मनीषिणः ॥ १३.१७७.११ ॥

O king, the seven sages, the Vālakhilyas likewise, and the drinkers of sunbeams, along with other wise men, praise abstention from eating meat.

13.177.12

न भक्षयति यो मांसं न च हन्यान्न घातयेत् ।
तन्मित्रं सर्वभूतानां मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १३.१७७.१२ ॥

He who neither eats meat, nor kills, nor causes killing — he is a friend to all beings, so said Manu, son of Svayambhū.

13.177.13

अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु ।
साधूनां सम्मतो नित्यं भवेन्मांसं विवर्जयन् ॥ १३.१७७.१३ ॥

He who abstains from meat becomes one whom no being fears, trusted by all creatures, and always esteemed by the good.

13.177.14

स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति ।
अविश्वास्योऽवसीदेत्स इति होवाच नारदः ॥ १३.१७७.१४ ॥

He who wishes to increase his own flesh with the flesh of others becomes untrustworthy and perishes — so said Nārada.

13.177.15

ददाति यजते चापि तपस्वी च भवत्यपि ।
मधुमांसनिवृत्त्येति प्राह चैवं बृहस्पतिः ॥ १३.१७७.१५ ॥

By abstaining from honey and meat, a man gives gifts, sacrifices, and becomes an ascetic too — so said Bṛhaspati.

13.177.16

मासिमास्यश्वमेधेन यो यजेत शतं समाः ।
न खादति च यो मांसं सममेतन्मतं मम ॥ १३.१७७.१६ ॥

He who performs the horse sacrifice month after month for a hundred years, and he who does not eat meat — these two are equal, this is my view.

13.177.17

सदा यजति सत्रेण सदा दानं प्रयच्छति ।
सदा तपस्वी भवति मद्यमांसविवर्जनात् ॥ १३.१७७.१७ ॥

By abstaining from liquor and meat, a man always performs long sacrificial sessions, always gives gifts, and is always an ascetic.

13.177.18

सर्वे वेदा न तत्कुर्युः सर्वे यज्ञाश्च भारत ।
यो भक्षयित्वा मांसानि पश्चादपि निवर्तते ॥ १३.१७७.१८ ॥

O Bhārata, what he does who, having eaten meat, afterwards turns away from it, not all the Vedas nor all the sacrifices could do.

13.177.19

भक्षयित्वा निमित्तेऽपि दुष्करं कुरुते तपः ।
दुष्करं च रसज्ञेन मांसस्य परिवर्जनम्।
चर्तुं व्रतमिदं श्रेष्ठं सर्वप्राण्यभयप्रदम् ॥ १३.१७७.१९ ॥

Even one who has eaten meat may perform hard penance on some occasion; but for one who knows taste, giving up meat is difficult. To undertake this excellent vow, which gives fearlessness to all living beings, is best.

13.177.20

सर्वभूतेषु यो विद्वान्ददात्यभयदक्षिणाम् ।
दाता भवति लोके स प्राणानां नात्र संशयः।
एवं वै परमं धर्मं प्रशंसन्ति मनीषिणः ॥ १३.१७७.२० ॥

The wise man who gives the fearlessness-offering to all beings becomes a giver of lives in the world; there is no doubt of this. Thus the sages praise this supreme dharma.

13.177.21

प्राणा यथाऽऽत्मनोऽभीष्टा भूतानामपि वै तथा ।
आत्मौपम्येन गन्तव्यं बुद्धिमद्भिः कृतात्मभिः ॥ १३.१७७.२१ ॥

As one's own life is dear to oneself, so too the lives of other beings are dear to them. The wise and self-controlled should proceed by likening others to themselves.

13.177.22

विकीर्णकर्णकेनापि तृणमस्पन्दने भयम् ।
किं पुनर्हन्यमानानां तरसा जीवितार्थिनाम्।
अरोगाणामपापानां पापैर्मांसोपजीविभिः ॥ १३.१७७.२२ ॥

Even if a blade of grass does not tremble from an arrow with spread-out barbs, there is fear; how much more so for those being forcibly slain, who desire to live, who are healthy and sinless, when they are slain by sinners who live on meat!

13.177.23

मृत्युतो भयमस्तीति शङ्कायां दुःखमुत्तरम् ।
धर्मस्यायतनं तस्मान्मांसस्य परिवर्जनम् ॥ १३.१७७.२३ ॥

If one doubts that there is fear from death, the answer is suffering. Therefore, abstention from meat is the abode of dharma.

13.177.24

अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाऽहिंसा परं तपः ।
अहिंसा परमं सत्यं ततो धर्मः प्रवर्तते ॥ १३.१७७.२४ ॥

Non-violence is the highest dharma, and non-violence is the highest austerity. Non-violence is the highest truth; from it dharma is established.

13.177.25

न हि मांसं तृणात्काष्ठादुपलाद्वाऽपि जायते ।
हत्वा जन्तुं ततो मांसं तस्माद्दोषस्तु भक्षणे ॥ १३.१७७.२५ ॥

Meat does not arise from grass, from wood, or even from stone. Only by killing a living being is meat obtained; therefore there is fault in eating it.

13.177.26

स्वाहास्वाधामृतभुजो देवाः सत्यार्जवप्रियाः ।
राक्षसेन्द्रभयान्मुक्ताः सर्वभूतपरायणाः ॥ १३.१७७.२६ ॥

The gods, who feed on svāhā, svadhā and amṛta, who love truth and uprightness, freed from the fear of the lord of the rākṣasas, were devoted to all beings.

13.177.27

कान्तारेष्वथ घोरेषु दुर्गेषु गहनेषु च ।
रात्रावहनि सन्ध्यासु चत्वरेषु सभासु च ॥ १३.१७७.२७ ॥

In terrible wildernesses, in inaccessible and dense places, by night and by day, at twilight, at crossroads, and even in assemblies.

13.177.28

उद्यतेषु च शस्त्रेषु मृगव्यालहतेषु च ।
अमांसभक्षणाद्राजन्न भयं तेषु विद्यते ॥ १३.१७७.२८ ॥

O king, even when weapons are raised and deer and wild beasts are being killed, there is no fear among those who do not eat meat.

13.177.29

शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु ।
अनुद्वेगकरो लोके न चाप्युद्विजते सदा ॥ १३.१७७.२९ ॥

He is a refuge for all beings, trusted by all creatures, causing no agitation in the world, and never himself agitated.

13.177.30

यदि चेत्स्वादको न स्यान्न तदा घातको भवेत् ।
घातकः खादकार्थाय तद्धातयति वै नरः ॥ १३.१७७.३० ॥

If there were no eater, there would be no slayer. For the sake of the eater, a man causes it to be slain.

13.177.31

अभक्ष्यमेतदिति वै इति हिंसा निवर्तते ।
खादकक्रमतो हिंसा मृगादीनां प्रवर्तते ॥ १३.१७७.३१ ॥

When one holds, "This is not to be eaten," violence ceases. Through the succession of eaters, violence against deer and other creatures continues.

13.177.32

यस्माद्ग्रसति चैवायुर्हिंसकानां महाद्युते ।
तस्माद्विवर्जयेन्मांसं य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः ॥ १३.१७७.३२ ॥

O greatly radiant one, it devours the very life span of those who do violence. Therefore, one who desires prosperity for himself should abstain from meat.

13.177.33

त्रातारं नाधिगच्छन्ति रौद्राः प्राणिविहिंसकाः ।
उद्वेजकास्तु भूतानां यथा व्यालमृगास्तथा ॥ १३.१७७.३३ ॥

The cruel harmers of living beings find no protector. Those who cause fear among creatures are like savage wild beasts.

13.177.34

लोभाद्वा बुद्धिमोहाद्वा बलवीर्यार्थमेव च ।
संसर्गादथ पापानामधर्मो रुचितो नृणाम् ॥ १३.१७७.३४ ॥

Out of greed, or delusion of intellect, or for the sake of strength and vigour, and through association with the wicked, unrighteousness comes to appeal to men.

13.177.35

स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति ।
उद्विग्नराष्ट्रे वसति यत्र यत्राभिजायते ॥ १३.१७७.३५ ॥

He who wishes to nourish his own flesh with the flesh of others dwells in a kingdom full of distress, wherever he is born.

13.177.36

धन्यं यशस्यामायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् ।
मांसस्याभक्षणं प्राहुर्नियताः परमर्षयः ॥ १३.१७७.३६ ॥

Abstaining from meat is called meritorious, bringing fame, long life, heaven, and great blessing, say the supreme sages who have restrained themselves.

13.177.37

इदं तु खलु कौन्तेय श्रुतमासीत्पुरा मया ।
मार्कण्डेयस्य वदतो ये दोषा मांसभक्षणे ॥ १३.१७७.३७ ॥

O son of Kuntī, these are the faults of eating meat that I once heard Mārkaṇḍeya declare.

13.177.38

यो हि खादति सांसानि प्राणिनां जीवितैषिणाम् ।
सदा भवति वै पापः प्राणिहन्ता तथैव सः ॥ १३.१७७.३८ ॥

He who eats the flesh of living beings who desire to live is always sinful, and he is likewise a killer of living beings.

13.177.39

धनेन क्रयिको हन्ति खादकश्चोपभोगतः ।
घातको वधबन्धाभ्यामित्येष त्रिविधो वधः ॥ १३.१७७.३९ ॥

The buyer kills by payment, the eater kills by consumption, and the slayer kills by slaughter and binding; thus killing is of three kinds.

13.177.40

अखादन्ननुमोदंश्च भावदोषेण मानवः ।
योऽनुमोदति हन्यन्तं सोऽपि दोषेण लिप्यते ॥ १३.१७७.४० ॥

Though a man does not eat himself, if through a fault of intention he approves, the one who approves of a creature being killed is also stained by the fault.

13.177.41

अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानामायुष्मान्निरुजः सदा ।
भवत्यभक्षयन्मासं दयावान्प्राणिनामिह ॥ १३.१७७.४१ ॥

He who does not eat meat and is compassionate toward living beings here becomes unassailable by all beings, long-lived, and always free from disease.

13.177.42

हिरण्यदानैर्गोदानैर्भूमिदानैश्च सर्वशः ।
मांसस्याभक्षणे धर्मो विशिष्ट इति नः श्रुतिः ॥ १३.१७७.४२ ॥

Through gifts of gold, of cows and of land, in every way, the dharma of not eating meat is held superior; so we have heard.

13.177.43

अप्रोक्षितं वृथामासं विधिहीनं न भक्षयेत् ।
भक्षयन्निरयं याति नरो नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥ १३.१७७.४३ ॥

One should not eat meat that is unconsecrated, obtained in vain, and without the prescribed rite. A man who eats it goes to hell; there is no doubt of this.

13.177.44

प्रोक्षिताभ्युक्षितं मांसं तथा ब्राह्म्णकाम्यया ।
अल्पदोषमिति ज्ञेयं विपरिते तु लिप्यते ॥ १३.१७७.४४ ॥

Meat that has been sprinkled and consecrated, and likewise that prepared out of regard for the brahmins, should be known as carrying little fault; but in the contrary case a man is defiled.

13.177.45

खादकस्य कृते जन्तून्यो हन्यात्पुरुषाधमः ।
महादोषकरस्तत्र घातको न तु खादकः ॥ १३.१७७.४५ ॥

The lowest of men who kills creatures for the sake of one who eats them commits a great fault; there the killer is guilty, not the eater.

13.177.46

इज्यायज्ञश्रुतिकृतैर्या मार्गैरबुधोऽधमः ।
हन्याज्जन्तून्मांसगृध्नुः स वै नरकभाङ्नरः ॥ १३.१७७.४६ ॥

The ignorant and base man who, under the pretext of sacrifice, worship and scriptural injunction, kills creatures out of greed for meat, indeed is a sharer in hell.

13.177.47

भक्षयित्वाऽपि यो मांसं पश्चादपि निवर्तते ।
तस्यापि सुमहान्धर्मो यः पापाद्विनिवर्तते ॥ १३.१७७.४७ ॥

Even for one who, having eaten meat, afterwards turns back from it, there is great dharma; great is that dharma for one who turns away from sin.

13.177.48

आहर्ता चानुमन्ता च विशस्ता क्रयविक्रयी ।
संस्कर्ता चोपभोक्ता च घातकाः सर्व एव ते ॥ १३.१७७.४८ ॥

The one who brings it, the one who consents, the one who slaughters, the buyer and the seller, the one who cooks, and the one who eats — all of them are killers.

13.177.49

इदमन्यत्तु वक्ष्यामि प्रमाणं विधिनिर्मितम् ।
पुराणमुषिभिर्जुष्टं वेदेषु परिनिश्चितम् ॥ १३.१७७.४९ ॥

I will now tell you something else: this is an authority established by injunction, an ancient tradition followed by the sages, firmly set forth in the Vedas.

13.177.50

प्रवृत्तिलक्षणे धर्मे फलार्थिभिरभिद्रुते ।
यथोक्तं राजशार्दूल न तु तन्मोक्षकारणम् ॥ १३.१७७.५० ॥

O tiger among kings, this is as stated in the dharma characterized by engagement in action, which those who seek fruits pursue; but it is not the cause of liberation.

13.177.51

हविर्यत्संस्कृतं मन्त्रैः प्रोक्षिताभ्युक्षितं शुचि ।
वेदोक्तेन प्रमाणेन पितॄणां प्रक्रियासु च।
प्रवृत्तिधर्मिणा भक्ष्यं नान्यथा मनुरब्रवीत् ॥ १३.१७७.५१ ॥

An oblation that has been consecrated with mantras, sprinkled and besprinkled, and made pure—in accordance with the authority stated in the Veda and in the rites of the ancestors—is to be eaten only by one who follows the dharma of action; otherwise, so Manu has said.