Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 39
पूयं चिकित्सकस्यान्नं पुंश्चल्यास्त्वन्नमिन्द्रियम् । विष्ठा वार्धुषिकस्यान्नं शस्त्रविक्रयिणो मलम्
pūyaṃ cikitsakasyānnaṃ puṃścalyāstvannamindriyam | viṣṭhā vārdhuṣikasyānnaṃ śastravikrayiṇo malam
A physician’s food is likened to pus; a prostitute’s food is likened to the downfall of the senses (indriya); a usurer’s food is likened to excrement; and the food of one who sells weapons is likened to filth.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)
FAQs
Livelihood and morality ‘flavor’ food; dharma warns that food tied to harmful trades or passions can pollute mind and destiny.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where the Māhātmya teaches discipline suited to a sacred pilgrimage environment.
It discourages accepting food from certain professions by expressing their karmic taint through strong metaphors.