Shloka 38
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
ब्रह्महा चैव गोघ्नक्ष परदाररतश्न यः । अश्रद्दधानश्न नर: स्त्रियं यश्चोपजीवति
brahmahā caiva goghnaś ca paradārarataś ca yaḥ | aśraddadhānaś ca naraḥ striyaṃ yaś copajīvati ||
Yama bersabda: “Pembunuh seorang Brahmana, pembunuh lembu, orang yang ketagih kepada isteri orang lain, lelaki yang tiada iman, dan orang yang hidup dengan bergantung pada seorang wanita—itulah lima jenis insan yang rosak akhlaknya seperti yang disebut.”
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies five forms of grave moral failure—brahma-hatyā, go-hatyā, adultery, faithlessness toward dharma, and living by improper dependence—presenting them as paradigmatic ‘durācāra’ (depraved conduct) to be avoided.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, Yama is speaking as a moral authority, enumerating and defining categories of serious wrongdoing as part of a broader instruction on righteous conduct and its opposites.