महाभारत - वन - धर्मसूक्ष्मता

यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तं तत्सत्यमिति धारणा ।
विपर्ययकृतोधर्मः पश्य धर्मस्य सूक्ष्मताम् ॥

- महाभारत, वन

That action (in its purest sense) which helps the animals has to treated as truth (in accordance with Dharma). Anything that hurts them is therefore against dharma. See how simple and subtle is the essence of Dharma. This was told by a hunter to a brahmin while explaining how he perceived Dharma to be.

- Mahabharta , Vana