Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13
Sāma (Sāntva) and Dāna: The Brāhmaṇa’s Conciliatory Release from a Rākṣasa
प्रभुर्वान्निमदन् विद्वान् पुनर्जनयतीश्वर: । स चाजन्नाज्जायते तस्मात् सूक्ष्म एष व्यतिक्रम:
prabhur vānnimadan vidvān punar janayatīśvaraḥ | sa cājann āj jāyate tasmāt sūkṣma eṣa vyatikramaḥ ||
Wika ni Maitreya: Ang taong may kakayahan at pag-unawa, na may kapangyarihan, ay kumakain ng pagkain at gayon ma’y nakapagpapasibol muli ng pagkain; subalit siya mismo’y isinilang mula sa pagkain. Kaya ang pagbaligtad na ito’y maselan at mahirap maunawaan—bagaman ang pagkain ay nagmumula sa ulan at ang mga nilalang ay nagmumula sa pagkain, ang paraang sinasabing ang pagkain ay nagmumula sa mga nilalang (gaya ng marunong na Brahmana) ay hindi madaling mawari.
मैत्रेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a subtle interdependence in the moral-cosmic economy: beings depend on food, yet through their agency (work, sacrifice, governance, learning, and right conduct) they also become causes for the renewed production and distribution of food. This apparent reversal of cause and effect is presented as difficult to grasp.
Maitreya is explaining a nuanced point about origins and sustenance: although rain produces food and food produces living beings, it is also said that living beings—exemplified by a learned brāhmaṇa—bring about food again. He notes that this reciprocal causality is subtle and not straightforward.