Shloka 9
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
असद्वृत्तस्य पुण्यं हि क्षयं यात्यंजनोपमम् । अनाचाराद्धतो विप्र आचारात्सुरतां व्रजेत्
asadvṛttasya puṇyaṃ hi kṣayaṃ yātyaṃjanopamam | anācārāddhato vipra ācārātsuratāṃ vrajet
தீய ஒழுக்கமுடையவனின் புண்ணியம் அஞ்சனம் போலச் செலவாகி அழிகிறது. அநாசாரத்தால் பிராமணன் வீழ்வான்; சதாசாரத்தால் தேவர்நிலையை அடைவான்.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 48; didactic narration)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यात्यञ्जनोपमम् = याति + अञ्जनोपमम्; अनाचाराद्धतः = अनाचारात् + हतः; आचारात्सुरताम् = आचारात् + सुरताम्.
FAQs
It teaches that moral conduct (ācāra) preserves and elevates a person, while misconduct (anācāra) destroys accumulated merit (puṇya) and leads to ruin.
Because añjana is gradually consumed as it is applied, the simile conveys that puṇya can be steadily exhausted and lost through ongoing bad behavior.
It emphasizes that learning or status alone is insufficient; disciplined right conduct is essential, and it is conduct that can lead even to a divine state.