Shloka 21
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
अनड्वान् मृत्तिका चैव तथा क्षुद्रपिपीलिका: । श्लेष्मातकस्तथा विप्रैरभक्ष्यं विषमेव च,“बैल, मिट्टी, छोटी-छोटी चीटियाँ, श्लेष्मातकः (लसोड़ा) और विष--ये सब ब्राह्मणोंके लिये अभक्ष्य हैं
anaḍvān mṛttikā caiva tathā kṣudra-pipīlikāḥ | śleṣmātakas tathā viprair abhakṣyaṃ viṣam eva ca ||
व्यास उवाच—अनड्वान् मृत्तिका चैव तथा क्षुद्रपिपीलिकाः। श्लेष्मातकस्तथा विषं विप्रैरभक्ष्यमेव च॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma includes disciplined restraint in food: certain items are categorically ‘abhakṣya’ (unfit to eat) for brāhmaṇas, either due to harm, impurity, or incompatibility with their prescribed conduct.
Vyāsa is listing items considered forbidden as food for brāhmaṇas, as part of a broader instruction on proper conduct (ācāra) and ethical living in the Śānti Parva.