Shloka 29
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
अग्निरुवाच पादमुद्यम्य यो मर्त्य: स्पृशेद् गाश्न सुदुर्मति: । ब्राह्मणं वा महाभागं दीप्यमानं तथानलम्
agnir uvāca pādam udyamya yo martyaḥ spṛśed gāśna sudurmatīḥ | brāhmaṇaṃ vā mahābhāgaṃ dīpyamānaṃ tathānalam ||
Wika ni Agni: “Ang mortal na may masamang pag-iisip na mag-aangat ng paa upang sipain ang isang baka—o gayundin, mananakit sa isang brāhmaṇa na lubhang pinagpala, nagliliwanag sa espirituwal na ningning na gaya ng apoy—ay gumagawa ng napakabigat na paglapastangan. Nilalabag ng gayong mga gawa ang pinakapundasyon ng dharma, sapagkat ito’y karahasan laban sa mga nagtataguyod at nagpapabanal sa daigdig.”
धर्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns violence and contempt toward two pillars of dharmic society: the cow (symbol of sustenance and sacrifice) and the brāhmaṇa (symbol of learning, ritual, and spiritual authority). To strike them is portrayed as a grave moral failure rooted in a corrupted mind.
Agni is speaking in a didactic context within the Anuśāsana Parva, warning about the severe wrongdoing involved in raising one’s foot to strike a cow, or in attacking an illustrious brāhmaṇa whose spiritual brilliance is likened to fire.