Bhishma Explains the Merit of Not Eating Meat

Verse 1 (13.177.1)

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

ahiṃsā paramo dharma ityuktaṃ bahuśastvayā | śrāddheṣu ca bhavānāha pitṝṇāṃ māṃsamīpsitam

Yudhishthira said: You have said many times that non-violence is the highest dharma, and in the shraddha rites you have said that meat is what the ancestors desire.

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from CE 13.116.1c (pitṝn āmiṣakāṅkṣiṇaḥ); recension variant, Wikisource reading kept.

Verse 2 (13.177.2)

मांसैर्बहुविधैः प्रोक्तस्त्वया श्राद्धविधिः पुरा । अहत्वा च कुतो मांसमेवमेतद्विरुध्यते ॥

māṃsairbahuvidhaiḥ proktastvayā śrāddhavidhiḥ purā | ahatvā ca kuto māṃsamevametadvirudhyate

Long ago you laid down the rule of the shraddha with many kinds of meat. But how can there be meat without killing? So the two statements seem to contradict each other.

Verse 3 (13.177.3)

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

jāto naḥ saṃśayo dharme māṃsasya parivarjane | doṣo bhakṣayata kaḥ syātkaścābhakṣayato guṇaḥ

A doubt has arisen in us about dharma concerning the giving up of meat: what fault is there in the one who eats it, and what merit in the one who does not?

Verse 4 (13.177.4)

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

hatvā bhakṣayato vā'pi pareṇopahṛtasya vā | hanyādvā yaḥ parasyārthe krītvā vā bhakṣayennaraḥ

And what of the man who kills and eats, or who eats what another has brought him, or who kills for another's sake, or who buys it and eats it?

Verse 5 (13.177.5)

एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन कथ्यमानं त्वयाऽनघ । निश्चयेन चिकीर्षामि धर्ममेतं सनातनम् ॥

etadicchāmi tattvena kathyamānaṃ tvayā'nagha | niścayena cikīrṣāmi dharmametaṃ sanātanam

Sinless one, I wish to hear this told as it truly is. I am resolved to follow this eternal dharma with firm conviction.

Verse 6 (13.177.6)

कथमायुरवाप्नोति कथं भवति सत्ववान् । कथमव्यङ्गतामेति लक्षण्यो जायते कथम् ॥

kathamāyuravāpnoti kathaṃ bhavati satvavān | kathamavyaṅgatāmeti lakṣaṇyo jāyate katham

How does a man gain long life? How does he become strong in spirit? How does he come to be free of bodily defect, and how is he born with auspicious marks?

Verse 7 (13.177.7)

मांसस्याभक्षणाद्राजन्यो धर्मः कुरुनन्दन । तं मे शृणु यथातत्त्वं यश्चास्य विधिरुत्तमः ॥

māṃsasyābhakṣaṇādrājanyo dharmaḥ kurunandana | taṃ me śṛṇu yathātattvaṃ yaścāsya vidhiruttamaḥ

Bhishma said: O king, descendant of Kuru, hear from me exactly as it is the dharma that comes from not eating meat, and the best rule concerning it.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; the verse is CE 13.116.7. Wikisource has the vulgate wording मांसस्याभक्षणाद्राजन्यो धर्मः where the CE reads 'māṃsasya bhakṣaṇe rājan yo 'dharmaḥ'; recension variant, kept.

Verse 8 (13.177.8)

रूपमव्यङ्गतामायुर्बुद्धिं सत्वं बलं स्मृतिम् । प्राप्तुकामैर्नरैर्हिंसा वर्जनीया कृतात्मभिः ॥

rūpamavyaṅgatāmāyurbuddhiṃ satvaṃ balaṃ smṛtim | prāptukāmairnarairhiṃsā varjanīyā kṛtātmabhiḥ

Men who wish to gain beauty, soundness of limb, long life, intelligence, strength of spirit, bodily strength and memory must, with disciplined minds, give up violence.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; line 1 = CE 13.116.8a; line 2 differs from CE 8c ('varjitā vai kṛtātmabhiḥ'); recension variant, kept.

Verse 9 (13.177.9)

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

ṛṣīṇāmatra saṃvādo bahuśaḥ kurunandana | babhūva teṣāṃ tu mataṃ yattacchṛṇu yudhiṣṭhira

On this subject, O descendant of Kuru, the sages often held discussion. Hear, Yudhishthira, what their opinion was.

Verse 10 (13.177.10)

यो यजेताश्वमेधेन मासिमासि यतव्रतः । वर्जयेन्मधु मांसं च सममेतद्युधिष्ठिर ॥

yo yajetāśvamedhena māsimāsi yatavrataḥ | varjayenmadhu māṃsaṃ ca samametadyudhiṣṭhira

Yudhishthira, the man who, keeping his vow, performs an Ashvamedha sacrifice every month, and the man who gives up honey and meat, are equal.

Verse 11 (13.177.11)

सप्तर्षयो वालखिल्यास्तथैव च मरीचिपाः । मांसस्याभक्षणं राजन्प्रशंसन्ति मनीषिणः ॥

saptarṣayo vālakhilyāstathaiva ca marīcipāḥ | māṃsasyābhakṣaṇaṃ rājanpraśaṃsanti manīṣiṇaḥ

The Seven Sages, the Valakhilyas and the Marichipas as well, and the wise, O king, all praise the not eating of meat.

Verse 12 (13.177.12)

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

na bhakṣayati yo māṃsaṃ na ca hanyānna ghātayet | tanmitraṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ manuḥ svāyaṃbhuvo'bravīt

Svayambhuva Manu declared that the man who does not eat meat, and neither kills nor has another kill, is the friend of all beings.

Verse 13 (13.177.13)

अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु । साधूनां सम्मतो नित्यं भवेन्मांसं विवर्जयन् ॥

adhṛṣyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ viśvāsyaḥ sarvajantuṣu | sādhūnāṃ sammato nityaṃ bhavenmāṃsaṃ vivarjayan

By giving up meat he becomes one whom no creature can assail, whom all beings trust, and who is always honoured by the good.

Verse 14 (13.177.14)

स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति । अविश्वास्योऽवसीदेत्स इति होवाच नारदः ॥

svamāṃsaṃ paramāṃsena yo vardhayitumicchati | aviśvāsyo'vasīdetsa iti hovāca nāradaḥ

Narada said so: the man who wants to build up his own flesh with the flesh of others is not trusted, and he sinks into misery.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; line 1 = CE 13.116.14a; line 2 = CE star passage 13.116.14d*0577_01 (aviśvāsyo 'vasīdet sa iti hovāca nāradaḥ), which stands in place of CE 14c.

Verse 15 (13.177.15)

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

dadāti yajate cāpi tapasvī ca bhavatyapi | madhumāṃsanivṛttyeti prāha caivaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ

Brihaspati likewise said that by giving up honey and meat a man gives, sacrifices, and also becomes an ascetic.

Verse 16 (13.177.16)

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

māsimāsyaśvamedhena yo yajeta śataṃ samāḥ | na khādati ca yo māṃsaṃ samametanmataṃ mama

He who performs an Ashvamedha every month for a hundred years, and he who does not eat meat, are equal in my judgment.

Verse 17 (13.177.17)

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

sadā yajati satreṇa sadā dānaṃ prayacchati | sadā tapasvī bhavati madyamāṃsavivarjanāt

By abstaining from wine and meat he is always sacrificing at a long sacrificial session, always giving gifts, and always practising austerity.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; the verse is CE 13.116.17 (line 2 reads मद्यमांसविवर्जनात् where the CE has 'madhumāṃsasya varjanāt'; variant, kept).

Verse 18 (13.177.18)

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

sarve vedā na tatkuryuḥ sarve yajñāśca bhārata | yo bhakṣayitvā māṃsāni paścādapi nivartate

O Bharata, all the Vedas and all the sacrifices could not do what he does who, after eating meat, afterwards turns away from it.

Verse 19 (13.177.19)

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

bhakṣayitvā nimitte'pi duṣkaraṃ kurute tapaḥ | duṣkaraṃ ca rasajñena māṃsasya parivarjanam | cartuṃ vratamidaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sarvaprāṇyabhayapradam

Even one who has eaten meat on some occasion performs a hard austerity when he turns from it. For a man who knows its taste, giving up meat is hard indeed. This vow is the best to practise, and it gives fearlessness to all creatures.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and closing quote mark (`…।') around line 1 (wiki marks for an interpolated line). Line 1 = CE star passage 13.116.18d*0578_01 (bhakṣayitvā nimitte 'pi duṣkaraṃ kurute tapaḥ); lines 2-3 = CE 13.116.19a, 19c (line 2 reads च for CE 'hi').

Verse 20 (13.177.20)

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

sarvabhūteṣu yo vidvāndadātyabhayadakṣiṇām | dātā bhavati loke sa prāṇānāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | evaṃ vai paramaṃ dharmaṃ praśaṃsanti manīṣiṇaḥ

The wise man who gives the gift of fearlessness to all beings is truly a giver of life-breaths in the world; of this there is no doubt. In this way the wise praise the highest dharma.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; lines 1-2 = CE 13.116.20a, 20c; line 3 = CE 13.116.21a.

Verse 21 (13.177.21)

प्राणा यथाऽऽत्मनोऽभीष्टा भूतानामपि वै तथा । आत्मौपम्येन गन्तव्यं बुद्धिमद्भिः कृतात्मभिः ॥

prāṇā yathā''tmano'bhīṣṭā bhūtānāmapi vai tathā | ātmaupamyena gantavyaṃ buddhimadbhiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ

Life is as dear to every being as it is to oneself. The wise and self-controlled should act by taking themselves as the measure of others.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.116.21c (reads वै for CE te); line 2 = CE 13.116.22a (reads कृतात्मभिः for CE mahātmabhiḥ).

Verse 22 (13.177.22)

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

vikīrṇakarṇakenāpi tṛṇamaspandane bhayam | kiṃ punarhanyamānānāṃ tarasā jīvitārthinām | arogāṇāmapāpānāṃ pāpairmāṃsopajīvibhiḥ

Even a creature with its ears flung wide trembles at the stirring of a blade of grass. What then of beings who cling to life, healthy and sinless, when they are struck down by force by sinners who live on meat?

Note on the text: Aligner found no match. Line 1 = CE star passage 13.116.22b*0579_01 (vikīrṇakaṇṭakenāpi tṛṇapraspandane bhayam; Wikisource reads कर्णकेन … तृणमस्पन्दने, recension variant, kept); lines 2-3 = CE 13.116.23a, 23c. ce_ref gives the numbered verse holding lines 2-3.

Verse 23 (13.177.23)

मृत्युतो भयमस्तीति शङ्कायां दुःखमुत्तरम् । धर्मस्यायतनं तस्मान्मांसस्य परिवर्जनम् ॥

mṛtyuto bhayamastīti śaṅkāyāṃ duḥkhamuttaram | dharmasyāyatanaṃ tasmānmāṃsasya parivarjanam

When the mere suspicion arises, “There is danger of death,” suffering is what follows. Therefore giving up meat is the very abode of dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: the couplet is star passage 13.116.24d*0580_01-02 (after 24c).

Verse 24 (13.177.24)

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

ahiṃsā paramo dharmastathā'hiṃsā paraṃ tapaḥ | ahiṃsā paramaṃ satyaṃ tato dharmaḥ pravartate

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

Verse 25 (13.177.25)

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

na hi māṃsaṃ tṛṇātkāṣṭhādupalādvā'pi jāyate | hatvā jantuṃ tato māṃsaṃ tasmāddoṣastu bhakṣaṇe

Meat does not grow from grass, from wood or from stone. It comes only from killing a living creature; therefore the fault lies in eating it.

Verse 26 (13.177.26)

स्वाहास्वधामृतभुजो देवाः सत्यार्जवप्रियाः । राक्षसेन्द्रभयान्मुक्ताः सर्वभूतपरायणाः ॥

svāhāsvadhāmṛtabhujo devāḥ satyārjavapriyāḥ | rākṣasendrabhayānmuktāḥ sarvabhūtaparāyaṇāḥ

The gods, who feed on svaha, svadha and ambrosia, love truth and honesty. Freed from fear of the lord of the rakshasas, they are the refuge of all beings.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वाधा → स्वधा (misprint in Wikisource; CE svadhā). Line 1 = CE 13.116.27a; line 2 = CE star passage 27d*0581_01. CE 27c (kravyādān rākṣasān viddhi …) is not in the Wikisource verse.

Verse 27 (13.177.27)

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

kāntāreṣvatha ghoreṣu durgeṣu gahaneṣu ca | rātrāvahani sandhyāsu catvareṣu sabhāsu ca

In dreadful wildernesses, in difficult and dense places, by night and by day, at the twilights, at crossroads and in assemblies,

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; = CE 13.116.28a, 28c.

Verse 28 (13.177.28)

उद्यतेषु च शस्त्रेषु मृगव्यालहतेषु च । अमांसभक्षणाद्राजन्न भयं तेषु विद्यते ॥

udyateṣu ca śastreṣu mṛgavyālahateṣu ca | amāṃsabhakṣaṇādrājanna bhayaṃ teṣu vidyate

when weapons are raised, and when beasts and serpents strike, the man who does not eat meat, O king, has no fear in any of these.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE star passage 13.116.28d*0582_01 (udyateṣu ca śastreṣu mṛgavyālabhayeṣu ca; Wikisource reads …हतेषु); line 2 is a variant of CE 28e (amāṃsabhakṣaṇe rājan bhayam ante na gacchati). ce_ref gives the numbered verse the second line belongs to.

Verse 29 (13.177.29)

शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु । अनुद्वेगकरो लोके न चाप्युद्विजते सदा ॥

śaraṇyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ viśvāsyaḥ sarvajantuṣu | anudvegakaro loke na cāpyudvijate sadā

He becomes a refuge to all beings, one whom every creature can trust, one who causes no alarm in the world, and who is never alarmed himself.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: the couplet is star passage 13.116.28f*0583_01-02.

Verse 30 (13.177.30)

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

yadi cetsvādako na syānna tadā ghātako bhavet | ghātakaḥ khādakārthāya taddhātayati vai naraḥ

If there were no eater, there would be no killer. The killer kills for the eater's sake; it is for that purpose that a man has the animal killed.

Verse 31 (13.177.31)

अभक्ष्यमेतदिति वै इति हिंसा निवर्तते । खादकक्रमतो हिंसा मृगादीनां प्रवर्तते ॥

abhakṣyametaditi vai iti hiṃsā nivartate | khādakakramato hiṃsā mṛgādīnāṃ pravartate

Violence ceases when it is held, “This is not to be eaten.” It is through the chain of eaters that violence against deer and other animals goes on.

Verse 32 (13.177.32)

यस्माद्ग्रसति चैवायुर्हिंसकानां महाद्युते । तस्माद्विवर्जयेन्मांसं य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः ॥

yasmādgrasati caivāyurhiṃsakānāṃ mahādyute | tasmādvivarjayenmāṃsaṃ ya icchedbhūtimātmanaḥ

Because it eats away the lifespan of those who do violence, O radiant one, whoever desires his own prosperity should avoid meat.

Verse 33 (13.177.33)

त्रातारं नाधिगच्छन्ति रौद्राः प्राणिविहिंसकाः । उद्वेजकास्तु भूतानां यथा व्यालमृगास्तथा ॥

trātāraṃ nādhigacchanti raudrāḥ prāṇivihiṃsakāḥ | udvejakāstu bhūtānāṃ yathā vyālamṛgāstathā

Cruel destroyers of living beings find no protector. They are a terror to creatures, just as wild beasts and serpents are.

Verse 34 (13.177.34)

लोभाद्वा बुद्धिमोहाद्वा बलवीर्यार्थमेव च । संसर्गादथ पापानामधर्मो रुचितो नृणाम् ॥

lobhādvā buddhimohādvā balavīryārthameva ca | saṃsargādatha pāpānāmadharmo rucito nṛṇām

Through greed or confusion of mind, for the sake of strength and vigour, or through the company of the wicked, men come to take a liking to adharma.

Verse 35 (13.177.35)

स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति । उद्विग्नराष्ट्रे वसति यत्र यत्राभिजायते ॥

svamāṃsaṃ paramāṃsena yo vardhayitumicchati | udvignarāṣṭre vasati yatra yatrābhijāyate

The man who wishes to build up his own flesh with the flesh of others lives in a land of anxiety wherever he is born.

Verse 36 (13.177.36)

धन्यं यशस्यामायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् । मांसस्याभक्षणं प्राहुर्नियताः परमर्षयः ॥

dhanyaṃ yaśasyāmāyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ svastyayanaṃ mahat | māṃsasyābhakṣaṇaṃ prāhurniyatāḥ paramarṣayaḥ

The great seers who keep their vows say that not eating meat is blessed, brings fame and long life, leads to heaven, and is a great means of well-being.

Verse 37 (13.177.37)

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

idaṃ tu khalu kaunteya śrutamāsītpurā mayā | mārkaṇḍeyasya vadato ye doṣā māṃsabhakṣaṇe

Kaunteya, I heard this long ago when Markandeya was speaking of the faults in eating meat.

Verse 38 (13.177.38)

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

yo hi khādati māṃsāni prāṇināṃ jīvitaiṣiṇām | sadā bhavati vai pāpaḥ prāṇihantā tathaiva saḥ

He who eats the flesh of living creatures that long to live is always a sinner, and is just as much a killer of living beings.

Note on the text: Corrected सांसानि → मांसानि (misprint in Wikisource; CE māṃsāni). Aligner found no match; line 1 = CE 13.116.37a; line 2 differs from CE 37c ('hatānāṃ vā mṛtānāṃ vā yathā hantā tathaiva saḥ'); recension variant, kept.

Verse 39 (13.177.39)

धनेन क्रयिको हन्ति खादकश्चोपभोगतः । घातको वधबन्धाभ्यामित्येष त्रिविधो वधः ॥

dhanena krayiko hanti khādakaścopabhogataḥ | ghātako vadhabandhābhyāmityeṣa trividho vadhaḥ

The buyer kills with his money, the eater by consuming, and the slaughterer by slaying and binding. Thus killing is of three kinds.

Verse 40 (13.177.40)

अखादन्ननुमोदंश्च भावदोषेण मानवः । योऽनुमोदति हन्यन्तं सोऽपि दोषेण लिप्यते ॥

akhādannanumodaṃśca bhāvadoṣeṇa mānavaḥ | yo'numodati hanyantaṃ so'pi doṣeṇa lipyate

A man who does not eat but gives his approval is at fault through the fault of his intent; whoever approves of an animal being killed is stained by the fault too.

Verse 41 (13.177.41)

अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानामायुष्मान्निरुजः सदा । भवत्यभक्षयन्मांसं दयावान्प्राणिनामिह ॥

adhṛṣyaḥ sarvabhūtānāmāyuṣmānnirujaḥ sadā | bhavatyabhakṣayanmāṃsaṃ dayāvānprāṇināmiha

The man who does not eat meat, and has compassion for living beings in this world, becomes one whom no creature can assail, long-lived and always free of disease.

Note on the text: Corrected भवत्यभक्षयन्मासं → भवत्यभक्षयन्मांसं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara, मास would mean "month"; CE māṃsaṃ).

Verse 42 (13.177.42)

हिरण्यदानैर्गोदानैर्भूमिदानैश्च सर्वशः । मांसस्याभक्षणे धर्मो विशिष्ट इति नः श्रुतिः ॥

hiraṇyadānairgodānairbhūmidānaiśca sarvaśaḥ | māṃsasyābhakṣaṇe dharmo viśiṣṭa iti naḥ śrutiḥ

“By gifts of gold, gifts of cows and gifts of land, in every way, the dharma of not eating meat is the more excellent”; such is what we have heard from the scripture.

Verse 43 (13.177.43)

अप्रोक्षितं वृथामांसं विधिहीनं न भक्षयेत् । भक्षयन्निरयं याति नरो नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥

aprokṣitaṃ vṛthāmāṃsaṃ vidhihīnaṃ na bhakṣayet | bhakṣayannirayaṃ yāti naro nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ

One should not eat meat that has not been consecrated, that is wasted and against the rule. The man who eats it goes to hell; there is no doubt of it.

Note on the text: Corrected वृथामासं → वृथामांसं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; CE vṛthāmāṃsaṃ).

Verse 44 (13.177.44)

प्रोक्षिताभ्युक्षितं मांसं तथा ब्राह्मणकाम्यया । अल्पदोषमिति ज्ञेयं विपरीते तु लिप्यते ॥

prokṣitābhyukṣitaṃ māṃsaṃ tathā brāhmaṇakāmyayā | alpadoṣamiti jñeyaṃ viparīte tu lipyate

Meat that has been sprinkled and consecrated, or that is eaten at the wish of brahmins, is to be known as of slight fault; in the opposite case one is stained.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्म्णकाम्यया → ब्राह्मणकाम्यया (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct) and विपरिते → विपरीते (misprint; dropped ī; CE viparīte).

Verse 45 (13.177.45)

खादकस्य कृते जन्तून्यो हन्यात्पुरुषाधमः । महादोषकरस्तत्र घातको न तु खादकः ॥

khādakasya kṛte jantūnyo hanyātpuruṣādhamaḥ | mahādoṣakarastatra ghātako na tu khādakaḥ

The vilest of men who kills creatures for the sake of an eater commits a great wrong; in that case it is the killer who bears the great fault, not the eater.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads घातको न तु खादकः where CE 13.116.44c has 'khādako na tu ghātakaḥ'; recension variant, kept.

Verse 46 (13.177.46)

इज्यायज्ञश्रुतिकृतैर्या मार्गैरबुधोऽधमः । हन्याज्जन्तून्मांसगृध्नुः स वै नरकभाङ्नरः ॥

ijyāyajñaśrutikṛtairyā mārgairabudho'dhamaḥ | hanyājjantūnmāṃsagṛdhnuḥ sa vai narakabhāṅnaraḥ

The ignorant, base man who, greedy for meat, kills creatures by means of the methods laid down in the scriptures for worship and sacrifice, is certainly bound for hell.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads इज्यायज्ञश्रुतिकृतैर्या मार्गैरबुधोऽधमः and line 2 मांसगृध्नुः स वै नरकभाङ्नरः against CE 13.116.45 ('… yo mārgair abudho janaḥ / hanyāj jantuṃ māṃsagṛddhrī …'); recension variant, kept.

Verse 47 (13.177.47)

भक्षयित्वाऽपि यो मांसं पश्चादपि निवर्तते । तस्यापि सुमहान्धर्मो यः पापाद्विनिवर्तते ॥

bhakṣayitvā'pi yo māṃsaṃ paścādapi nivartate | tasyāpi sumahāndharmo yaḥ pāpādvinivartate

Even one who has eaten meat and afterwards turns away from it — great is his dharma too, for he turns back from sin.

Verse 48 (13.177.48)

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

āhartā cānumantā ca viśastā krayavikrayī | saṃskartā copabhoktā ca ghātakāḥ sarva eva te

The one who brings it, the one who approves, the butcher, the buyer and the seller, the cook and the eater — all of these are slayers.

Verse 49 (13.177.49)

इदमन्यत्तु वक्ष्यामि प्रमाणं विधिनिर्मितम् । पुराणमृषिभिर्जुष्टं वेदेषु परिनिश्चितम् ॥

idamanyattu vakṣyāmi pramāṇaṃ vidhinirmitam | purāṇamṛṣibhirjuṣṭaṃ vedeṣu pariniścitam

I shall tell you another authority, one made by rule, ancient, practised by the seers and settled in the Vedas.

Note on the text: Corrected उषिभिः → ऋषिभिः (misprint in Wikisource; CE ṛṣibhir).

Verse 50 (13.177.50)

प्रवृत्तिलक्षणे धर्मे फलार्थिभिरभिद्रुते । यथोक्तं राजशार्दूल न तु तन्मोक्षकारणम् ॥

pravṛttilakṣaṇe dharme phalārthibhirabhidrute | yathoktaṃ rājaśārdūla na tu tanmokṣakāraṇam

When the dharma whose mark is active engagement is pursued by those who seek its fruits, it is as I have stated, tiger among kings; but it is not the cause of liberation.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads तन्मोक्षकारणम् where CE 13.116.49c has 'mokṣakāṅkṣiṇām'; the page's commentary records the other reading as a variant. Wikisource reading kept.

Verse 51 (13.177.51)

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

haviryatsaṃskṛtaṃ mantraiḥ prokṣitābhyukṣitaṃ śuci | vedoktena pramāṇena pitṝṇāṃ prakriyāsu ca | pravṛttidharmiṇā bhakṣyaṃ nānyathā manurabravīt

An oblation that has been consecrated with mantras, sprinkled and purified, by the authority of the Veda and in the rites for the ancestors, may be eaten by one who follows the dharma of action; not otherwise, said Manu.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 13.116.50a, 50c; line 3 is a variant of CE 50e (ato 'nyathā vṛthāmāṃsam abhakṣyaṃ manur abravīt), reading प्रवृत्तिधर्मिणा भक्ष्यं नान्यथा मनुरब्रवीत्. Wikisource reading kept.

Verse 52 (13.177.52)

अस्वर्ग्यमयशस्यं च रक्षोवद्भरतर्षभ । विधिहीनं नरः पूर्वं मांसं राजन्न भक्षयेत् ॥

asvargyamayaśasyaṃ ca rakṣovadbharatarṣabha | vidhihīnaṃ naraḥ pūrvaṃ māṃsaṃ rājanna bhakṣayet

Otherwise, best of the Bharatas, it is heavenless and without fame, like the food of rakshasas. A man should above all never, O king, eat meat that lacks the prescribed rule.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; line 1 = CE 13.116.51a; line 2 (विधिहीनं नरः पूर्वं मांसं राजन्न भक्षयेत्) is a recension variant of CE 51c (vidhinā hi narāḥ pūrvaṃ māṃsaṃ rājann abhakṣayan). Wikisource reading kept.

Verse 53 (13.177.53)

य इच्छेत्पुरुषोऽत्यन्तमात्मानं निरुपद्रवम् । स वर्जयेत मांसानि प्राणिनामिह सर्वशः ॥

ya icchetpuruṣo'tyantamātmānaṃ nirupadravam | sa varjayeta māṃsāni prāṇināmiha sarvaśaḥ

A man who wishes his own self to be wholly free of harm should give up the flesh of living beings in every way.

Verse 54 (13.177.54)

श्रूयते हि पुराकल्पे नृणां व्रीहिमयः पशुः । येनायजन्त विद्वांसः पुण्यलोकपरायणाः ॥

śrūyate hi purākalpe nṛṇāṃ vrīhimayaḥ paśuḥ | yenāyajanta vidvāṃsaḥ puṇyalokaparāyaṇāḥ

It is heard that in a former kalpa there was for men an animal made of rice, with which the learned, intent on the worlds of merit, performed sacrifice.

Verse 55 (13.177.55)

ऋषिभिः संशयं पृष्टो वसुश्चेदिपतिः पुरा । अभक्ष्यमपि मांसं यः प्राह भक्ष्यमिति प्रभो ॥

ṛṣibhiḥ saṃśayaṃ pṛṣṭo vasuścedipatiḥ purā | abhakṣyamapi māṃsaṃ yaḥ prāha bhakṣyamiti prabho

Long ago Vasu, king of the Chedis, was asked by the sages to settle a doubt, and he declared that meat, though not to be eaten, is to be eaten, O lord.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads अभक्ष्यमपि मांसं यः प्राह भक्ष्यमिति where CE 13.116.54c has "abhakṣyam iti māṃsaṃ sa prāha bhakṣyam iti"; variant, kept.

Verse 56 (13.177.56)

आकाशादवनिं प्राप्तस्ततः स पृथिवीपतिः । यस्तदेव पुनश्चोक्त्वा विवेश धरणीतलम् ॥

ākāśādavaniṃ prāptastataḥ sa pṛthivīpatiḥ | yastadeva punaścoktvā viveśa dharaṇītalam

Then that lord of the earth fell from the sky to the earth, and having said the very same thing once more, he entered the surface of the earth.

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from CE 13.116.55a (ākāśān medinīṃ prāptas …) and line 2 (यस्तदेव पुनश्चोक्त्वा) from CE 55c (etad eva punaś coktvā); recension variants, kept.

Verse 57 (13.177.57)

प्रजानां हितकामेन त्वगस्त्येन महात्मना । आरण्याः सर्वदैवत्याः प्रोक्षितास्तापसैर्मृगाः ॥

prajānāṃ hitakāmena tvagastyena mahātmanā | āraṇyāḥ sarvadaivatyāḥ prokṣitāstāpasairmṛgāḥ

Wishing the good of the people, the great-souled Agastya had the beasts of the forest, which belong to all the gods, consecrated by ascetics.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; the verse is CE 13.116.56 (line 2 reads प्रोक्षितास्तापसैर्मृगाः where the CE has 'prokṣitās tapasā mṛgāḥ'; variant, kept).

Verse 58 (13.177.58)

क्रिया ह्येवं न हीयन्ते पितृदैवतसंश्रिताः । प्रीयन्ते पितरश्चैव न्यायतो मांसतर्पिताः ॥

kriyā hyevaṃ na hīyante pitṛdaivatasaṃśritāḥ | prīyante pitaraścaiva nyāyato māṃsatarpitāḥ

In this way the rites connected with the ancestors and the gods are not neglected, and the ancestors, satisfied with meat in the proper manner, are pleased.

Verse 59 (13.177.59)

इदं तु शृणु राजेन्द्र मांसस्याभक्षणे गुणाः । अभक्षणे सर्वसुखं मांसस्य मनुजाधिप ॥

idaṃ tu śṛṇu rājendra māṃsasyābhakṣaṇe guṇāḥ | abhakṣaṇe sarvasukhaṃ māṃsasya manujādhipa

Now hear, O king of kings, the merits of not eating meat. In not eating meat, O lord of men, there is every happiness.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets around line 2 (wiki editorial marks). Aligner found no match; line 1 differs from CE 13.116.58a (idaṃ tu śṛṇu rājendra kīrtyamānaṃ mayānagha), line 2 = CE 58c.

Verse 60 (13.177.60)

यस्तु वर्षशतं पूर्णं तपस्तप्येत्सुदारुणम् । यश्चैव वर्जयेन्मांसं सममेतन्मतं मम ॥

yastu varṣaśataṃ pūrṇaṃ tapastapyetsudāruṇam | yaścaiva varjayenmāṃsaṃ samametanmataṃ mama

The man who practises severe austerity for a full hundred years, and the man who gives up meat, are equal in my view.

Verse 61 (13.177.61)

कौमुद्यास्तु विशेषेण शुक्लपक्षे नराधिप । वर्जयेत्सर्वमांसानि धर्मो ह्यत्र विधीयते ॥

kaumudyāstu viśeṣeṇa śuklapakṣe narādhipa | varjayetsarvamāṃsāni dharmo hyatra vidhīyate

Especially in the bright fortnight of Kaumudi, O lord of men, one should give up all meats, for dharma is laid down for it there.

Verse 62 (13.177.62)

चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्यो मांसं परिवर्जयेत् । चत्वारि भद्राण्याप्नोति कीर्तिमायुर्यशो बलम् ॥

caturo vārṣikānmāsānyo māṃsaṃ parivarjayet | catvāri bhadrāṇyāpnoti kīrtimāyuryaśo balam

He who gives up meat for the four months of the rains gains four good things: fame, long life, renown and strength.

Note on the text: Removed the opening square bracket (wiki editorial mark; the bracketed passage runs through the next two verses). The verse is CE 13.116.61.

Verse 63 (13.177.63)

अथवा मासमेकं वै सर्वमांसान्यभक्षयन् । अतीत्य सर्वदुःखानि सुखं जीवेन्निरामयः ॥

athavā māsamekaṃ vai sarvamāṃsānyabhakṣayan | atītya sarvaduḥkhāni sukhaṃ jīvennirāmayaḥ

Or, abstaining from all meat for even a single month, a man passes beyond all sorrows and lives happy and free of illness.

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; the verse is CE 13.116.62 (line 2 reads सुखं जीवेन्निरामयः for CE "sukhī jīven nirāmayaḥ"; variant, kept).

Verse 64 (13.177.64)

वर्जयन्ति हि मांसानि मासशः पक्षशोऽपि वा । तेषां हिंसानिवृत्तानां ब्रह्मलोको विधीयते ॥

varjayanti hi māṃsāni māsaśaḥ pakṣaśo'pi vā | teṣāṃ hiṃsānivṛttānāṃ brahmaloko vidhīyate

Those who give up meat for months at a time or for fortnights, and who refrain from violence, are assigned the world of Brahma.

Note on the text: Removed the closing square bracket (wiki editorial mark) and corrected पक्षशोपि → पक्षशोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE pakṣaśo 'pi). The verse is CE 13.116.63.

Verse 65 (13.177.65)

मांसं तु कौमुदं पक्षं वर्जितं पार्थ राजभिः । सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थैर्विदितार्थपरावरैः ॥

māṃsaṃ tu kaumudaṃ pakṣaṃ varjitaṃ pārtha rājabhiḥ | sarvabhūtātmabhūtasthairviditārthaparāvaraiḥ

O Partha, meat was given up during the fortnight of Kaumuda by kings who regarded all beings as their own self and knew the higher and the lower:

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; the verse is CE 13.116.64 (line 2 reads सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थैर्विदितार्थपरावरैः for CE "sarvabhūtātmabhūtais tair vijñātārthaparāvaraiḥ"; variant, kept).

Verse 66 (13.177.66)

नाभागेनाम्बरीषेण गयेन च महात्मना । आयुषाऽथानरण्येन दिलीपरघुसूनुभिः ॥

nābhāgenāmbarīṣeṇa gayena ca mahātmanā | āyuṣā'thānaraṇyena dilīparaghusūnubhiḥ

Nabhaga, Ambarisha, the great-souled Gaya, Ayu, Anaranya, Dilipa, and the sons of Raghu,

Note on the text: Line 2 reads दिलीपरघुसूनुभिः where CE 13.116.65c has "dilīparaghupūrubhiḥ"; recension variant, kept.

Verse 67 (13.177.67)

कार्तवीर्यानिरुद्धाभ्यां नहुषेण ययातिना । नृगेण विष्वगश्वेन तथैव शशबिन्दुना ॥

kārtavīryāniruddhābhyāṃ nahuṣeṇa yayātinā | nṛgeṇa viṣvagaśvena tathaiva śaśabindunā

Kartavirya and Aniruddha, Nahusha and Yayati, Nriga, Vishvagashva, and likewise Shashabindu,

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; = CE 13.116.66a, 66c.

Verse 68 (13.177.68)

युवनाश्वेन च तथा शिबिनौशीनरेण च । मुचुकुन्देन मान्धात्रा हरिश्चन्द्रेण वा विभो ॥

yuvanāśvena ca tathā śibinauśīnareṇa ca | mucukundena māndhātrā hariścandreṇa vā vibho

Yuvanashva, Shibi the Aushinara, Muchukunda, Mandhatri, and Harishchandra, O mighty one,

Note on the text: Aligner found no match; line 1 = CE 13.116.66e; line 2 = CE star passage 13.116.66f*0587_01 (mucukundena māndhātrā hariścandreṇa cābhibho).

Verse 69 (13.177.69)

सत्यं वदत माऽसत्यं सत्यं धर्मः सनातनः । हरिश्चन्द्रश्चरति वै दिवि सत्येन चन्द्रवत् ॥

satyaṃ vadata mā'satyaṃ satyaṃ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | hariścandraścarati vai divi satyena candravat

“Speak the truth, not falsehood; truth is the eternal dharma.” Harishchandra moves in heaven by his truth, like the moon.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: the couplet is star passage 13.116.66f*0587_02-03.

Verse 70 (13.177.70)

श्येनचित्रेण राजेन्द्र सोमकेन वृकेण च । रैवतेन रन्तिदेवेन वसुना सृञ्जयेन च ॥

śyenacitreṇa rājendra somakena vṛkeṇa ca | raivatena rantidevena vasunā sṛñjayena ca

Shyenachitra, Somaka and Vrika, Raivata, Rantideva, Vasu and Srinjaya,

Note on the text: Corrected रैवते → रैवतेन (misprint in Wikisource; the list is of instrumentals, dropped न; CE raivatena). The verse is CE 13.116.67a, 67c.

Verse 71 (13.177.71)

एतैश्चान्यैश्च राजेन्द्र कृपेण भरतेन च । दुष्यन्तेन करूषेण रामालर्कनलैस्तथा । विरूपाश्वेन निमिना जनकेन च धीमता ॥

etaiścānyaiśca rājendra kṛpeṇa bharatena ca | duṣyantena karūṣeṇa rāmālarkanalaistathā | virūpāśvena niminā janakena ca dhīmatā

by these and by others, O king of kings: Kripa and Bharata, Dushyanta and Karusha, Rama, Alarka and Nala, Virupashva, Nimi, and the wise Janaka,

Note on the text: Corrected करूशेन → करूषेण (misprint in Wikisource; CE karūṣeṇa) and विचकाश्वेन → विरूपाश्वेन (misprint in Wikisource: no king Vicakāśva is known and the CE reads virūpāśvena). Aligner found no match; line 1 = CE star passage 13.116.67d*0588_01 (etaiś cānyaiś ca rājendra kṛpeṇa bharatena ca); lines 2-3 = CE 13.116.68a, 68c.

Verse 72 (13.177.72)

ऐलेन पृथुना चैव वीरसेनेन चैव ह । इक्ष्वाकुणा शम्भुना च श्वेतेन सगरेण च ॥

ailena pṛthunā caiva vīrasenena caiva ha | ikṣvākuṇā śambhunā ca śvetena sagareṇa ca

Aila, Prithu and Virasena, Ikshvaku, Shambhu, Shveta and Sagara,

Note on the text: Corrected चैंव → चैव (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara). Line 1 begins ऐलेन where CE 13.116.69a has "silena"; variant, kept.

Verse 73 (13.177.73)

अजेन धुन्धुना चैव तथैव च सुबाहुना । हर्यश्वेन च राजेन्द्र क्षुपेण भरतेन च ॥

ajena dhundhunā caiva tathaiva ca subāhunā | haryaśvena ca rājendra kṣupeṇa bharatena ca

Aja, Dhundhu and Subahu likewise, Haryashva, O king of kings, Kshupa and Bharata.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: the couplet is star passage 13.116.69d*0590_01-02.

Verse 74 (13.177.74)

एतैश्चान्यैश्च राजेन्द्र पुरा मांसं न भक्षितम् । शारदं कौमुदं मासं ततस्ते स्वर्गमाप्नुवन् ॥

etaiścānyaiśca rājendra purā māṃsaṃ na bhakṣitam | śāradaṃ kaumudaṃ māsaṃ tataste svargamāpnuvan

These and others, O king of kings, did not eat meat in the past during the autumn month of Kaumuda, and by that they attained heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected राजेन्द्रि → राजेन्द्र (misprint in Wikisource; CE rājendra).

Verse 75 (13.177.75)

ब्रह्मलोके च तिष्ठन्ति ज्वलमानाः श्रियाऽन्विताः । उपास्यमाना गन्धर्वैः स्त्रीसहस्रसमन्विताः ॥

brahmaloke ca tiṣṭhanti jvalamānāḥ śriyā'nvitāḥ | upāsyamānā gandharvaiḥ strīsahasrasamanvitāḥ

They dwell in the world of Brahma, blazing and endowed with splendour, attended by gandharvas and accompanied by thousands of women.

Verse 76 (13.177.76)

तदेतदुत्तमं धर्ममहिंसाधर्मलक्षणम् । ये चरन्ति महात्मानो नाकपृष्ठे वसन्ति ते ॥

tadetaduttamaṃ dharmamahiṃsādharmalakṣaṇam | ye caranti mahātmāno nākapṛṣṭhe vasanti te

This is the highest dharma, whose mark is non-violence. The great souls who practise it dwell in the vault of heaven.

Verse 77 (13.177.77)

मधु मांसं च ये नित्यं वर्जयन्तीह धार्मिकाः । जन्मप्रभृति मद्यं च सर्वे ते मुनयः स्मृताः ॥

madhu māṃsaṃ ca ye nityaṃ varjayantīha dhārmikāḥ | janmaprabhṛti madyaṃ ca sarve te munayaḥ smṛtāḥ

The pious who from birth always give up honey, meat and wine are all counted as sages.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्व ते → सर्वे ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped e-mātrā, agreeing with मुनयः; CE sarve te). Aligner found no match; = CE 13.116.73a, 73c.

Verse 78 (13.177.78)

इमं धर्मममांसादं यश्चरेच्छ्रावयीत वा । अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो न जातु निरयं व्रजेत् ॥

imaṃ dharmamamāṃsādaṃ yaścarecchrāvayīta vā | api cetsudurācāro na jātu nirayaṃ vrajet

The man who practises this dharma of not eating meat, or has it recited to others, will never go to hell, even if his conduct is very bad.

Note on the text: Corrected यश्चरेनच्छ्रावयीत → यश्चरेच्छ्रावयीत (misprint in Wikisource; stray न, a ninth syllable; CE yaś carec chrāvayeta). Not in the critical edition's numbered text: the couplet is star passage 13.116.73f*0591_01-02.

Verse 79 (13.177.79)

पठेद्वा च इदं राजञ्शृणुयाद्वाऽप्यभीक्ष्णशः । अमांसभक्षणविधिं पवित्रमृषिपूजितम् ॥

paṭhedvā ca idaṃ rājañśṛṇuyādvā'pyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ | amāṃsabhakṣaṇavidhiṃ pavitramṛṣipūjitam

O king, the man who reads this sacred rule of not eating meat, honoured by the seers, or listens to it again and again,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: the couplet is star passage 13.116.73f*0591_03-04 (Wikisource reads पठेद्वा च for CE paṭhed vā ya).

Verse 80 (13.177.80)

विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वकामैर्महीयते । विशिष्टतां ज्ञातिषु च लभते नात्र संशयः । अहिंस्रो दानशीलश्च मधुमांसविवर्जितः ॥

vimuktaḥ sarvapāpebhyaḥ sarvakāmairmahīyate | viśiṣṭatāṃ jñātiṣu ca labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ | ahiṃsro dānaśīlaśca madhumāṃsavivarjitaḥ

is freed from all sins and is exalted with all his desires fulfilled. He gains pre-eminence among his kinsmen, without doubt, and becomes non-violent, generous, and a giver-up of honey and meat.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and closing quote marks around line 3. Line 1 = CE star passage 13.116.73f*0591_05 (vimuktaḥ sarvapāpebhyaḥ sarvakāmair mahīyate); line 2 = CE 13.116.73e (reads लभते for CE labhante); line 3 = CE star passage 73f*0592_01. ce_ref gives the numbered verse holding line 2.

Verse 81 (13.177.81)

आपन्नश्चापदो मुच्येद्बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात् । मुच्येत्तथाऽऽतुरो रोगाद्दुःखान्मुच्येत दुःखितः ॥

āpannaścāpado mucyedbaddho mucyeta bandhanāt | mucyettathā''turo rogādduḥkhānmucyeta duḥkhitaḥ

The man in distress is freed from distress, the bound from bondage, the sick from illness, and the sorrowing from sorrow.

Verse 82 (13.177.82)

तिर्यग्योनिं न गच्छेत रूपवांश्च भवेन्नरः । ऋद्धिमान्वै कुरुश्रेष्ठ प्राप्नुयाच्च महद्यशः ॥

tiryagyoniṃ na gaccheta rūpavāṃśca bhavennaraḥ | ṛddhimānvai kuruśreṣṭha prāpnuyācca mahadyaśaḥ

He does not enter an animal womb; he becomes a man of fine form, prosperous, O best of the Kurus, and wins great fame.

Verse 83 (13.177.83)

एतत्ते कथितं राजन्मांसस्य परिवर्जने । प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च विधानमृषिनिर्मितम् ॥

etatte kathitaṃ rājanmāṃsasya parivarjane | pravṛttau ca nivṛttau ca vidhānamṛṣinirmitam

Thus, O king, I have told you the rule made by the sages concerning giving up meat, and concerning both engagement and withdrawal.