Shloka 16
Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)
गौतमश्नापि सम्प्राप्प पुनस्तं शबरालयम् । शूद्रायां जनयामास पुत्रान् दुष्कृतकारिण:,गौतम भी पुनः भीलोंके ही गाँवमें जाकर रहने लगा। वहाँ उसने उस शूद्रजातिकी सत्रीके पेटसे ही अनेक पापाचारी पुत्रोंको उत्पन्न किया
Gautamaś cāpi samprāpya punas taṁ śabarālayam | śūdrāyāṁ janayāmāsa putrān duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Gautama juga kembali sekali lagi ke penempatan Śabara dan tinggal di sana; dan melalui seorang wanita Śūdra, dia memperanakkan putera-putera yang kemudian menjadi pelaku perbuatan jahat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical consequence of repeatedly returning to an undisciplined or unrighteous setting: one’s choices and associations can shape outcomes, including the character of one’s descendants, leading to the spread of wrongdoing.
Bhīṣma narrates that Gautama returned to the Śabara habitation and, with a Śūdra woman, fathered multiple sons described as duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ—habitual wrongdoers—marking a turn toward morally problematic lineage and conduct.