Shloka 24
कालनिर्देशः शोकनिवारणं च
Instruction on Kāla and the Removal of Grief
अन्यत्र ब्राह्मणस्वेभ्य आददानो न दुष्यति । स्वयमप्राशिता यश्ष न स पापेन लिप्यते
anyatra brāhmaṇasvebhya ādādāno na duṣyati | svayam aprāśitā yaś ca na sa pāpena lipyate ||
ব্রাহ্মণদের স্বত্ব ব্যতীত অন্যত্র (কারও) সম্পদ গ্রহণ করলে মানুষ কলুষিত হয় না; আর যে নিজে সেই (নিষিদ্ধ) অন্ন ভক্ষণ করেনি, সে পাপে লিপ্ত হয় না।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse draws a sharp ethical boundary: taking property is treated as blameworthy especially when it is Brahmin-owned, and it also distinguishes personal culpability—one who has not personally partaken (eaten) is not morally tainted by that act.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states a rule-like ethical clarification about fault (doṣa) and sin (pāpa), focusing on exceptions and on how personal participation determines moral contamination.