Shloka 19
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
कीर्तयन् गुणमन्नानामघृणी च पुनः पुनः । त॑ वै फलार्थिन मन्ये भ्रातरं तर्कचक्षुषा
kīrtayan guṇam annānām aghṛṇī ca punaḥ punaḥ | taṁ vai phalārthinam manye bhrātaraṁ tarkacakṣuṣā ||
食の『良さ』を何度も語り、しかも嫌悪を抱かぬその姿を見て、私は理の眼でその兄を量り、こう裁く。彼は報いを求める者—節制や道理ではなく、利得への欲に突き動かされている、と。
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes reward-seeking disguised as discipline: repeatedly praising food and consuming without scruple reveals attachment to ‘phala’ (personal gain). True ethical restraint is measured by inner motivation, not outward learning or status.
A Brahmin speaker evaluates his brother’s conduct. Observing his repeated talk about the merits of food and his lack of aversion, he concludes—using rational judgment—that the brother is driven by desire for results rather than principled self-control.