Previous Verse

Shloka 753

Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation

मांसं मूत्रं पुरीषं च प्राश्य संस्कारमर्हति । अनास्तिक पुरुषोंके लिये एक गोदानमात्र ही प्रायश्चित्त बतलाया गया है। कुत्ते

bhīṣma uvāca | māṁsaṁ mūtraṁ purīṣaṁ ca prāśya saṁskāram arhati |

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ମାଂସ, ମୂତ୍ର ଓ ପୁରୀଷ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କଲେ ଦ୍ୱିଜଙ୍କୁ ପୁନଃ ସଂସ୍କାର (ଶୁଦ୍ଧି-ବିଧି) ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ହୁଏ। ନାସ୍ତିକ ପୁରୁଷ ପାଇଁ ମାତ୍ର ଏକ ଗୋଦାନକୁ ପ୍ରାୟଶ୍ଚିତ୍ତ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଇଛି। କୁକୁର, ଶୂକର, ମନୁଷ୍ୟ, କୁକୁଟ ଓ ଗର୍ଦ୍ଧଭର ମାଂସ ଏବଂ ମଲ-ମୂତ୍ର ଭକ୍ଷଣ କଲେ ଦ୍ୱିଜଙ୍କ ପୁନଃ ସଂସ୍କାର ହେବା ଉଚିତ।

मांसम्meat/flesh
मांसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमांस
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
मूत्रम्urine
मूत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमूत्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पुरीषम्feces/excrement
पुरीषम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुरीष
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
प्राश्यhaving eaten/consumed
प्राश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + अश्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral as gerund)
संस्कारम्purificatory rite/re-consecration
संस्कारम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंस्कार
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अर्हतिdeserves/is fit for/should undergo
अर्हति:
TypeVerb
Rootअर्ह्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
D
dvija
G
go-dāna (cow-gift)
D
dog
P
pig
H
human
R
rooster
D
donkey

Educational Q&A

The passage teaches that serious violations of purity norms—especially consuming forbidden or impure substances—require formal expiation and restorative rites (saṁskāra) to re-establish dharmic eligibility; it also notes a specific expiation (cow-gift) in the case of a nāstika.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about rules of conduct and expiation, specifying what purification is required when a dvija consumes impure substances and mentioning related expiations for particular cases.