Shloka 17
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
अभिमान: श्रियं हन्ति पुरुषस्याल्पमेधस: । गर्भेण दुष्यते कन्या गृहवासेन च द्विज:,मन्दबुद्धि पुरुषके भीतर जो अभिमान होता है वह उसकी लक्ष्मीका नाश करता है। गर्भ धारण करनेसे कन्या दूषित हो जाती है और सदा घरमें रहनेसे ब्राह्मण दूषित समझे जाते हैं
abhimānaḥ śriyaṃ hanti puruṣasyālpamedhasaḥ | garbheṇa duṣyate kanyā gṛhavāsena ca dvijaḥ ||
Soma said: “Pride destroys the prosperity of a man of little understanding. A maiden is considered tainted by pregnancy, and a Brahmin is deemed tainted by constant residence at home.” The verse warns that inner arrogance erodes one’s fortune and reputation, and it uses socially recognized examples of ‘defilement’ to stress the need for restraint, vigilance, and disciplined conduct.
सोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Pride (abhimāna) undermines a person’s prosperity and standing; therefore one should cultivate humility and disciplined conduct. The verse reinforces this by citing culturally recognized cases of ‘taint’ to emphasize how certain actions or states can damage reputation and dharmic credibility.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-oriented discourse, Soma speaks a didactic maxim. He warns about the ethical danger of arrogance and illustrates the idea of moral/social ‘defilement’ through examples involving a maiden’s pregnancy and a Brahmin’s constant home-staying, urging vigilance in personal conduct.