Shloka 27
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
राजान्नं तेज आदत्ते शूद्रान्नं ब्रह्मवर्चसम् । आयु: सुवर्णकारान्नमवीरायाश्व॒ योषित:,“राजाका अन्न तेज हर लेता है, शूद्रका अन्न ब्रह्मतेजको नष्ट कर देता है, सुनारका तथा पति और पुत्रसे हीन युवतीका अन्न आयुका नाश करता है
rājānnaṁ teja ādatte śūdrānnaṁ brahmavarcasam | āyuḥ suvarṇakārānnam avīrāyāś ca yoṣitaḥ ||
Vyāsa sprach: „Speise, die man von einem König empfängt, raubt einem das tejas, den inneren Glanz; Speise, die man von einem Śūdra empfängt, mindert das brahmavarcasa, die aus heiliger Zucht geborene geistige Leuchtkraft. Speise von einem Goldschmied und Speise von einer Frau ohne Schutz — ohne Gatten und ohne Sohn — zerstört die Lebensdauer.“
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that accepting food/support binds the recipient to the giver’s sphere of influence and qualities; therefore, one should be discerning about sources of livelihood, since improper dependence can diminish spiritual radiance (tejas), sacred lustre (brahmavarcas), and even vitality/longevity (āyuḥ).
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers instruction on dharma and disciplined living. Here he lists categories of donors whose food is said to harm specific spiritual or vital qualities, functioning as a cautionary rule about purity, independence, and the moral consequences of patronage.