Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 10
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
चाण्डालो<हं ततो राजन् भुक्त्वा तदभवं नृप । ब्रह्मस्वहारी च नृप: सो<प्रतिष्ठां गतिं ययौ,महाराज! उस भिक्षान्नको खाकर मैं चाण्डाल हो गया और ब्राह्मणके धनका अपहरण करनेवाले वे राजा भी नरकगामी हो गये
cāṇḍālo ’haṃ tato rājan bhuktvā tad abhavaṃ nṛpa | brahmasvahārī ca nṛpaḥ so ’pratiṣṭhāṃ gatiṃ yayau ||
Wika ng Caṇḍāla: “Pagkaraan nito, O Hari, sa pagkain ko ng pagkaing iyon ay naging Caṇḍāla ako. At ang haring yaon—na nagnakaw ng ari-arian ng isang Brāhmaṇa—ay napasok din sa landas ng kahihiyan, nawalan ng dangal, at nagtungo sa kapahamakan. Kaya kapwa ang kumain ng maruming limos at ang lumapastangan sa yaman ng Brahmin ay sumasapit sa mabigat na pagbagsak.”
चाण्डाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that adharma has consequences for both parties: consuming morally tainted food can degrade the consumer, and stealing a Brāhmaṇa’s property leads the thief to loss of honor and a ruinous destiny. It links ethical purity (especially regarding food and gifts) with karmic outcome.
A Caṇḍāla recounts to a king that after eating a particular alms-food he became a Caṇḍāla, while the king who had stolen Brahmin property likewise fell into disgrace and a bad fate. The statement functions as a cautionary example within the Anuśāsana Parva’s moral instruction.