Shloka 15
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता ममागृह्नाद् विचरन् गहने वने । अपरिज्ञातशौचायां भूमौ निपतितं फलम्,तदनन्तर एक वर्ष बीतनेपर द्विजश्रेष्ठ उपयाजने उपयुक्त अवसरपर मधुर वाणीमें द्रपदसे कहा--'राजन! मेरे बड़े भाई याज एक समय घने वनमें विचर रहे थे। उन्होंने एक ऐसी जमीनपर गिरे हुए फलको उठा लिया, जिसकी शुद्धिके सम्बन्धमें कुछ भी पता नहीं था
jyeṣṭho bhrātā mamāgṛhṇād vicarann gahane vane | aparijñātaśaucāyāṃ bhūmau nipatitaṃ phalam |
Disse o brâmane: “Meu irmão mais velho, ao vagar por uma floresta densa, apanhou um fruto caído no chão—num solo cuja pureza ritual era desconhecida. Esse ato, embora pareça pequeno, levanta uma questão de dharma: pode-se aceitar e consumir algo quando sua limpeza ritual e seu estatuto legítimo são incertos?”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.