Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
ऋषिभि: संशयं पृष्टो वसुश्नेदिपति: पुरा । अभक्ष्यमपि मांसं य: प्राह भक्ष्यमिति प्रभो
ṛṣibhiḥ saṁśayaṁ pṛṣṭo vasuś cedi-patiḥ purā | abhakṣyam api māṁsaṁ yaḥ prāha bhakṣyam iti prabho ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Noong unang panahon, nang tanungin ng mga rishi si Haring Vasu ng Cedi upang lutasin ang isang pag-aalinlangan, ipinahayag niya na maging ang karne—na sa sarili nito’y lubos na di-dapat kainin—ay maaari raw kainin.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That pronouncements on dharma must be made with great care: when an authority figure gives a wrong ruling—especially by calling what is ‘abhakṣya’ (forbidden) ‘bhakṣya’ (permissible)—it can corrupt ethical judgment and set a harmful precedent.
Bhishma recalls an old incident: sages approached King Vasu of Cedi with a doubt to be clarified, and Vasu answered by declaring meat to be permissible even though it is described here as wholly unfit to be eaten, introducing a cautionary example about mistaken guidance.