Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
सोम॑ तु रजसा ध्वस्तं विक्रीणन् विधिपूर्वकम् | श्रोत्रियो वार्धुषी भूत्वा न चिरं स विनश्यति
somaṃ tu rajasā dhvastaṃ vikrīṇan vidhipūrvakam | śrotriyo vārddhuṣī bhūtvā na ciraṃ sa vinaśyati ||
ଧୂଳିରେ ଦୂଷିତ ସୋମକୁ ଯଦି କୌଣସି ଶ୍ରୋତ୍ରିୟ, ବେଦବେତ୍ତା ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ବିଧିପୂର୍ବକ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିକ୍ରୟ କରେ, କିମ୍ବା ବ୍ୟାଜରେ ଧନ ଚଲାଇ ‘ୱାର୍ଧୁଷୀ’ (ସୁଦଖୋରି) ହୋଇଯାଏ—ତେବେ ସେ ଦୀର୍ଘକାଳ ଟିକେ ନାହିଁ; ଶୀଘ୍ର ନଶ୍ଟ ହୁଏ।
चाण्डाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual correctness alone cannot justify an unethical livelihood: selling impure sacrificial Soma or adopting usury is portrayed as adharma that leads to swift downfall, even for a Veda-learned Brahmin.
A Caṇḍāla speaker delivers a moral warning about conduct and livelihood, criticizing certain practices (trade in defiled Soma and moneylending at interest) as spiritually and socially destructive, regardless of one’s learning or status.