Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 41
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
जिसपर किसीकी दूषित दृष्टि न पड़ी हो, जो जलसे धोया गया हो तथा जिसकी ब्राह्मणलोग वाणीद्वारा प्रशंसा करते हों--ये ही तीन वस्तुएँ देवताओं ने ब्राह्मणोंके उपयोगमें लाने योग्य और पवित्र बतायी हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | saṃyāvaṃ kṛsaraṃ māṃsaṃ śaṣkulīṃ pāyasaṃ tathā | ātmārthaṃ na prakartavyaṃ devārthaṃ tu prakalpayet ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang saṃyāva, kṛsara, karne, mga keyk na śaṣkulī, at pāyasa (lugaw na may gatas)—ang mga pagkaing ito’y hindi dapat ihanda para sa sariling paglalayaw. Dapat itong gawin na may layuning ihandog sa mga diyos.” Sa diwang etikal, itinatakda ni Bhishma na ang pagluluto at pagkain ay nagkakamit ng kadalisayan at pagiging marapat kapag iniuukol sa pagsamba at pagpipigil-sa-sarili, hindi sa pansariling aliw.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Food preparation becomes ethically and ritually proper when it is oriented toward offering (devārtha) rather than personal gratification (ātmārtha). The verse promotes restraint and sacralizing consumption through worship.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he gives a rule about certain rich foods: they should be prepared as offerings to the gods, not merely for one’s own enjoyment.