Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता ममागृह्नाद् विचरन् गहने वने । अपरिज्ञातशौचायां भूमौ निपतितं फलम्
jyeṣṭho bhrātā mamāgṛhṇād vicarann gahane vane | aparijñātaśaucāyāṃ bhūmau nipatitaṃ phalam |
ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କହିଲେ— “ମୋର ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ଭ୍ରାତା ଘନ ଅରଣ୍ୟରେ ବିଚରଣ କରୁଥିବାବେଳେ, ଯାହାର ଶୌଚ-ଶୁଦ୍ଧି ବିଷୟରେ କିଛି ଜଣା ନଥିଲା ସେପରି ଭୂମିରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ଫଳଟିକୁ ଉଠାଇନେଲେ। କାମଟି ଛୋଟ ଲାଗିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଧର୍ମର ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ଉଠେ— ଯେଉଁଠି ଶୁଦ୍ଧତା ଓ ଅଧିକାର ସନ୍ଦିଗ୍ଧ, ସେଠି ଗ୍ରହଣ ଓ ଭୋଗ କି ଯୁକ୍ତ?”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
The verse foregrounds śauca (purity) and moral caution: when the cleanliness or rightful status of something (especially food) is uncertain, a dharmic person should be careful about accepting it, since small lapses can have ethical and ritual consequences.
A Brahmin recounts an incident about his elder brother: while wandering in a dense forest, the brother picked up a fruit that had fallen on ground of unknown purity, setting up a discussion about proper conduct and the implications of taking what is not clearly permissible.