Shloka 74
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
केशविक्रयिका राजन् विषविक्रयिकाश्न ये । क्षीरविक्रयिकाश्वैव ते वै निरयगामिन:,राजन! जो (ब्राह्मण) केश, विष और दूध बेचते हैं, वे भी नरकमें ही जाते हैं
keśavikrayikā rājan viṣavikrayikāś ca ye | kṣīravikrayikāś caiva te vai nirayagāminaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja, mereka yang memperdagangkan rambut, mereka yang menjual racun, dan demikian juga mereka yang menjual susu—mereka itu sesungguhnya ditakdirkan menuju neraka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that certain trades—selling hair, poison, and milk—are morally censured and lead to grave karmic consequences. It presents a dharmic warning against livelihoods tied to impurity, harm, or the improper commercialization of sensitive substances.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the king on dharma and conduct. Here he lists specific condemned occupations, stating that those who engage in these forms of selling are ‘niraya-gāminaḥ’—destined for hell.