Shloka 12
गोमूल्यनिर्णयः — The Determination of Value through the Cow
Nahuṣa–Cyavana Episode
बन्दी तु जायते वैश्यान्मागधो वाक्यजीवन: । शूद्रान्निषादो मत्स्यघ्न: क्षत्रियायां व्यतिक्रमात्
bhīṣma uvāca | bandī tu jāyate vaiśyān māgadho vākyajīvanaḥ | śūdrān niṣādo matsyaghnaḥ kṣatriyāyāṃ vyatikramāt ||
قال بهيشما: من رجلٍ فيشيا، إذا وقع اتحادٌ متجاوزٌ للحدود مع امرأةٍ كشاترية، وُلد ابن يُسمّى «باندي» أو «ماغadha»؛ يقتات بالكلام—بمدح الناس وإعلان شأنهم. وكذلك من رجلٍ شودر، بمثل هذا التجاوز مع امرأةٍ كشاترية، ينشأ «نيشادَا»، وحرفته قتل السمك.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a dharma-based view that crossing prescribed social boundaries (vyatikrama) is consequential, producing specific social identities and associated livelihoods; it uses genealogy to reinforce norms of social order.
Bhishma is instructing on dharma and social classifications, describing the traditional epic account of how certain groups (Bandī/Māgadha and Niṣāda) are said to arise from transgressive unions involving a Kṣatriya woman, and what occupations they are associated with.