Editing Ahimsa (section)

===The Epics===
{{see also | Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah | Yato Dharmastato Jayah }}

The [[Mahabharata]], one of the epics of Hinduism, has multiple mentions of the phrase {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa Paramo Dharma}} ({{lang|sa|अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मः}}), which literally means: non-violence is the highest moral virtue. For example, [[Anushasana Parva]] has the verse:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs13117.htm |title=Mahabharata 13.117.37–38 |access-date=7 August 2013 |archive-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013100312/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs13117.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
<blockquote><poem>{{lang|sa|अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मः तथाहिंसा परॊ दमः।
अहिंसा परमं दानम् अहिंसा परमस तपः।
अहिंसा परमॊ यज्ञः तथाहिस्मा परं बलम्।
अहिंसा परमं मित्रम् अहिंसा परमं सुखम्।
अहिंसा परमं सत्यम् अहिंसा परमं श्रुतम्॥}}
</poem></blockquote>
The above passage from Mahabharata emphasises the cardinal importance of {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} in Hinduism, and literally means:
<blockquote><poem>
{{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the highest {{transliteration|sa|[[Dharma]]}}, {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the highest self-control, 
{{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the greatest gift, {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the best practice, 
{{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the highest sacrifice, {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the finest strength, 
{{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the greatest friend, {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the greatest happiness, 
{{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the highest truth, and {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa}} is the greatest teaching.<ref name=CCEN>{{cite book|last=Chapple|first=Christopher|chapter=Ecological Nonviolence and the Hindu Tradition|series=Recent Research in Psychology|title=Perspectives on Nonviolence|year=1990|editor-first=V.K.|editor-last=Kool|pages=168–177|location=New York|publisher=Springer}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/january-february-march-2007/2007-01-what-is-hinduism-6/|chapter=Ahimsa: To Do No Harm|date=January 2007|author=Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami|title=What is Hinduism|pages=359–361}}</ref>
</poem></blockquote>
Some other examples where the phrase {{transliteration|sa|Ahimsa Paramo Dharma}} are discussed include [[Adi Parva]], [[Vana Parva]], and [[Anushasana Parva]]. The [[Bhagavad Gita]], among other things, discusses the doubts and questions about appropriate response when one faces systematic violence or war. These verses develop the concepts of lawful violence in self-defence and the [[Just war theory|theories of just war]]. However, there is no consensus on this interpretation. Gandhi, for example, considers this debate about non-violence and lawful violence as a mere metaphor for the internal war within each human being, when he or she faces moral questions.<ref name=fischer1954>{{cite book|last=Fischer|first=Louis|title=Gandhi: His Life and Message to the World|url=https://archive.org/details/gandhihislifemes00fisc|publisher=Mentor|location=New York|year=1954|page=[https://archive.org/details/gandhihislifemes00fisc/page/17/mode/1up 17]|isbn=978-0-451-62014-9 }}</ref>