Shloka 19
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
कीर्तयन् गुणमन्नानामघृणी च पुनः पुनः । त॑ वै फलार्थिन मन्ये भ्रातरं तर्कचक्षुषा,“गुरुकुलमें रहकर संहिताभागका अध्ययन करते हुए भी जो दूसरोंकी त्यागी हुई भिक्षाको जब-तब खा लिया करते थे और घृणाशून्य होकर बार-बार उस अन्नके गुणोंका वर्णन करते रहते थे, उन अपने भाईको जब मैं तर्ककी दृष्टिसे देखता हूँ तो वे मुझे फलके लोभी जान पड़ते हैं
kīrtayan guṇam annānām aghṛṇī ca punaḥ punaḥ | taṁ vai phalārthinam manye bhrātaraṁ tarkacakṣuṣā ||
وهو يثني مرارًا على مزايا الطعام بلا نفور، أنظر إلى ذلك الأخ بعين العقل فأحكم عليه بأنه طالبُ جزاء—تسوقه شهوة المكسب لا ضبطُ النفس ولا المبدأ.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes reward-seeking disguised as discipline: repeatedly praising food and consuming without scruple reveals attachment to ‘phala’ (personal gain). True ethical restraint is measured by inner motivation, not outward learning or status.
A Brahmin speaker evaluates his brother’s conduct. Observing his repeated talk about the merits of food and his lack of aversion, he concludes—using rational judgment—that the brother is driven by desire for results rather than principled self-control.