Shloka 24
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
अव्रती वृषलीभर्ता कुण्डाशी सोमविक्रयी । निहीनसेवी विप्रो हि पतति ब्रह्मययोनित:,शराबी, ब्रह्महत्यारा, नीच, चोर, व्रतभंग करनेवाला, अपवित्र, स्वाध्यायहीन, पापी, लोभी, कपटी, शठ, व्रतका पालन न करनेवाला, शूद्रजातिकी स्त्रीका स्वामी, कुण्डाशी (पतिके जीते-जी उत्पन्न किये हुए जारज पुत्रके घरमें खानेवाला अथवा पाकपात्रमें ही भोजन करनेवाला), सोमरस बेचनेवाला और नीचसेवी ब्राह्मण ब्राह्मणकी योनिसे भ्रष्ट हो जाता है
avratī vṛṣalībhartā kuṇḍāśī somavikrayī | nihīnasevī vipro hi patati brahmayayonitaḥ ||
Śrī Maheśvara said: “A brāhmaṇa who is without vows and discipline, who keeps a Śūdra woman as his wife, who eats in a ‘kuṇḍāśī’ manner (a censured/impure way), who sells soma, and who serves the base and ignoble—such a man falls away from the very status of being born in the brāhmaṇa yoni.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that a brāhmaṇa’s status is sustained by disciplined conduct—vows, purity of livelihood, and avoidance of ignoble service. When one adopts censured practices (such as selling soma, improper eating, or degrading dependence), one is said to fall from brāhmaṇa standing.
Śrī Maheśvara is delivering a dharma-instructional statement within Anuśāsana Parva, listing behaviors considered spiritually and socially degrading for a brāhmaṇa and stating the consequence: loss of brāhmaṇa status (a ‘fall’ from the dignity implied by brāhmaṇa birth).