Shloka 326

Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)

Devanagari script

सक्तधानाकरम्भाणां नोपभोग्याश्रिरस्थिता: । “इसी प्रकार जो पदार्थ आटे

Transliteration

saktadhānākarambhāṇāṁ nopabhogyāśrirasthitāḥ

Translation

Vyāsa teaches a rule of disciplined living: foods that have become stale, spoiled, or otherwise degraded—such as preparations made from flour, sugarcane juice, greens, or milk when they have been left too long—should not be eaten. The ethical emphasis is on purity, restraint, and avoiding indulgence that harms health and clarity of mind.

Word by Word

• सक्तधानाकरम्भाणाम्: of saktu (parched flour/meal), grains, and karambha (gruel/porridge)
• सक्तधानाकरम्भाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्त-धान-करम्भ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• उपभोग्या: fit to be consumed/enjoyed
• उपभोग्या: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपभोग्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• आश्रिः: prosperity/benefit (i.e., wholesome good)
• आश्रिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अवस्थिता: is present/abides
• अवस्थिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवस्थित
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• saktu (sattu/parched flour)
• dhāna (parched grain/roasted barley)
• karambha (curd-mixed grain preparation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain purity and self-restraint in diet: avoid stale, spoiled, or degraded foods, since disciplined eating supports health, clarity, and dharmic conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on right conduct, Vyāsa lays down practical rules of living, here specifying which kinds of food preparations become unfit when spoiled or left too long.