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:
avratī vṛṣalībhartā kuṇḍāśī somavikrayī | nihīnasevī vipro hi patati brahmayayonitaḥ ||
Śrī Maheśvara dit : « Le brāhmane sans vœux ni discipline, qui prend pour épouse une femme śūdra, qui mange à la manière “kuṇḍāśī” (une façon blâmée/impure), qui vend le soma et qui sert les gens vils et ignobles — un tel homme déchoit du statut même d’être né dans la yoni des brāhmanes. »
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).