Some leaving off every thing, live in silent meditation. Some speak of sovereignty and the caring after subjects, after killing, cutting, and piercing (foes). Some prefer spending their days in retirement. Observing all this, the learned hold that religion which consists is not injuring any creature is the one approved of by the righteous. The practice of abstention from injury, truthfulness of speech, justice, compassion, self-control, procreation (of offspring) upon one's own wives, amiability, modesty, patience, is the best of all religious as said by the self-born Manu himself. Therefore, O son of Kunti, do you practise this religion!
केचित् सर्वं परित्यज्य तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते। राज्यमेके प्रशंसन्ति प्रजानां परिपालनम्॥ हत्वा छित्त्वा च भित्त्वा च केचिदेकान्तशीलिनः। एतत् सर्वं समालोक्य बुधानामेष निश्चयः॥ अद्रोहेणैव भूतानां यो धर्मः स सतां मतः। अद्रोहः सत्यवचनं संविभागो दया दमः॥ प्रजनं स्वेषु दारेषु मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्। एवं धर्मं प्रधानेष्टं मनः स्वाम्यभुवोऽब्रवीत्॥ तस्मादेतत् प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय प्रतिपालय।