अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाऽहिंसा परन्तपः। अहिंसा परमं सत्यं यतो धर्मः प्रवर्तते॥
ahiṃsā paramo dharmastathā’hiṃsā parantapaḥ । ahiṃsā paramaṃ satyaṃ yato dharmaḥ pravartate ॥
PM's MessageBapu always emphasized non-violence for the protection of humanity. It has the power to change the world without weapons.
Meaning of Ahiṃsā Paramo Dharmastathā’Hiṃsā
Non-violence is the highest duty, non-violence is the highest penance. Non-violence is the ultimate truth, from which all dharma proceeds.
Word by word
- अहिंसाahiṁsā
non-injury
अ + √हिंस्
A negative compound: the absence of harm, not restraint of it.
- परमःparamaḥ
highest
परम
- धर्मःdharmaḥ
dharma
√धृ
- तथाtathā
likewise
- परन्तपःparantapaḥ
the highest austerity
परम + तपस्
- परमम्paramam
highest
परम
- सत्यम्satyam
truth
√अस्
- यतःyataḥ
from which
यद्
- प्रवर्ततेpravartate
proceeds
प्र + √वृत्
The causal clause the shortened quotation drops.
Commentary
This iconic verse from the Mahabharata serves as a cornerstone of Indian ethics. It defines ahiṃsā, non-violence, not merely as abstention from harm but as an active ethical and spiritual discipline. The source reading names ahiṃsā in three registers—as supreme dharma, supreme tapas, and supreme truth—before explaining that dharma proceeds from it. The present text has parantapaḥ where the source reads paraṃ tapaḥ; parantapaḥ therefore should not be translated as 'the highest penance'. The supplied meaning follows the intended source reading in treating non-violence as the highest austerity. The verse's argument is consequently stronger than a simple ranking of duties: it presents ahiṃsā as a foundation from which dharma develops.
Original Post
More from Mahabharata
View source pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
More subhashitams on Non-Violence
View topic pageज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥
śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥
Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.