Mahabharata — Adi Parva, 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 |
Wika ng Brahmana: “Ang aking panganay na kapatid, habang naglalagalag sa masukal na gubat, ay pumulot ng bungang nahulog sa lupa—sa lupang hindi tiyak ang kalinisan ayon sa ritwal. Ang gawang wari’y maliit ay nagbubukas ng tanong ng dharma: maaari bang tanggapin at kainin ang isang bagay kung di tiyak ang kalinisan nito at ang karapat-dapat na kalagayan nito.”
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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