Mahabharata 1.167.15 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 167, Shloka 15
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 |
Брахман сказал: «Мой старший брат, бродя по густому лесу, поднял плод, упавший на землю, — на почву, чья ритуальная чистота была неизвестна. Поступок, кажущийся малым, поднимает вопрос дхармы: дозволено ли принимать и вкушать нечто, когда его обрядовая чистота и правомерный статус сомнительны?»
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.
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