Shloka 29
गोमूल्यनिर्णयः — The Determination of Value through the Cow
Nahuṣa–Cyavana Episode
इत्येते संकरे जाता: पितृमातृव्यतिक्रमात् | प्रच्छन्ना वा प्रकाशा वा वेदितव्या: स्वकर्मभि:
ity ete saṅkare jātāḥ pitṛ-mātṛ-vyatikramāt | pracchannā vā prakāśā vā veditavyāḥ sva-karmabhiḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ainsi naissent ces groupes mêlés, issus de la transgression ou du croisement des lignées paternelle et maternelle (c’est-à-dire d’unions franchissant les limites du varṇa). Certaines identités demeurent cachées, d’autres sont connues au grand jour ; qu’on les reconnaisse à leur propre conduite et à leurs actes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that mixed origins arise from crossing established lineage/varṇa boundaries, and that social identity—especially when not obvious—should be assessed through a person’s actual conduct (karma/ācāra), not merely by claim or appearance.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is explaining to Yudhiṣṭhira how various mixed groups are said to originate and how they may be identified—some being publicly known and others remaining hidden—ultimately pointing to deeds as the practical criterion for recognition.