Shloka 27
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
उदपानोदके ग्रामे ब्राह्मणो वृषलीपति: । उषित्वा द्वादश समा: शूद्रकर्मेव गच्छति
udapānodake grāme brāhmaṇo vṛṣalīpatiḥ | uṣitvā dvādaśa samāḥ śūdrakarmāiva gacchati ||
भीष्म ने कहा—जिस गाँव में सब लोग एक ही कुएँ का पानी पीते हैं, वहाँ शूद्र-स्त्री का पति बनकर और बारह वर्ष निवास करने से ब्राह्मण भी शूद्र के कर्म-आचरण में प्रवृत्त माना जाता है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that varṇa-identity and eligibility for particular dharmas are not treated as merely nominal; sustained association, marriage alliance, and long-term residence within a community—together with adopting its customary occupations—can lead society to regard a person as having shifted into that community’s mode of life and duties.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-instruction, Bhishma is laying down a rule-like observation about social status: a Brahmin who marries a Śūdra woman and lives for twelve years in a village characterized by common use of a single well is said to ‘go to’ (i.e., be classed as) one following Śūdra conduct/occupation.