Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 114
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
शद्राश्न ब्राह्मणीं भार्यामुपयास्यन्ति निर्भया: । वियोनिषु विमोक्ष्यन्ति बीजानि पुरुषा यदा
śūdrāś ca brāhmaṇīṁ bhāryām upayāsyanti nirbhayāḥ | viyoniṣu vimokṣyanti bījāni puruṣā yadā ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେତେବେଳେ ଶୂଦ୍ରବର୍ଣ୍ଣର ପୁରୁଷମାନେ ଭୟ ଓ ସଂଯମ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣୀକୁ ପତ୍ନୀରୂପେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବେ, ସେତେବେଳେ ସେମାନେ ଅନୁଚିତ ଯୋନିରେ ନିଜ ବୀଜ ନିକ୍ଷେପ କରିବେ। ଏହା ଧର୍ମମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦା ଭଙ୍ଗ ଓ ନୀତିଗତ ଅବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ଲକ୍ଷଣ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames unrestrained crossing of prescribed marital boundaries as a symptom of adharma, warning that ethical and social norms around marriage and procreation, when disregarded, lead to disorder and confusion of duties.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Bhīṣma is describing signs and consequences of societal decline, using the example of men entering unions deemed improper and begetting offspring through ‘unsuitable’ relations.