Subhashitams on Non-Violence
This theme brings together 4 subhashitams from 5 sources.
Latest update: Sep 21, 2026
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा। विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा॥
eko dharmaḥ paraṁ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntir uttamā । vidyaikā paramā tṛptir ahiṁsaikā sukhāvahā ॥
A verse from Vidura Niti in the Mahabharata that pairs four virtues with what each one alone can give: dharma brings the highest good, forgiveness the finest peace, knowledge true contentment, and non-violence lasting happiness.
सहृदयं सांमनस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि वः। अन्यो अन्यमभि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्न्या॥
sahṛdayaṁ sāṃmanasyam avidveṣaṁ kṛṇomi vaḥ । anyo anyam abhi haryata vatsaṁ jātam ivāghnyā ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra calls people to shared feeling, concord and freedom from hatred, with a cow's tenderness for her newborn calf as its model.
स्वस्ति पन्थामनुचरेम सूर्याचन्द्रमसाविव। पुनर्ददाताघ्नता जानता सङ्गमेमहि॥
svasti panthām anucarema sūryācandramasāviva । punardadatāghnatā jānatā saṅgamemahi ॥
A Rigvedic prayer for moving forward together with wisdom, harmony, and non-violence, following the eternal example of the sun and moon.
अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाऽहिंसा परन्तपः। अहिंसा परमं सत्यं यतो धर्मः प्रवर्तते॥
ahiṃsā paramo dharmastathā’hiṃsā parantapaḥ । ahiṃsā paramaṃ satyaṃ yato dharmaḥ pravartate ॥
Ahimsa is presented as the highest dharma and austerity, a discipline rooted in truth and the refusal to harm.