Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 293
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
तस्य दोषान् प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छुणुध्वं समाहिता: । अग्नि बोले--जो दुर्बुद्धि मनुष्य लात उठाकर उससे गौका
tasya doṣān pravakṣyāmi tac chṛṇudhvaṃ samāhitāḥ |
Wika ni Dharma: “Ngayon ay ipahahayag ko ang mga kasalanan (sala at kawalan ng kabutihan) na ibinubunga ng gayong asal. Makinig kayo nang may natipong pag-iisip.” Sa ganitong diwa, ililista niya ang mabibigat na bunga sa dharma na tinatamo ng isang hangal na, sa kapalaluan, sumisipa at nakadadampi sa isang baka, sa isang kagalang-galang na brāhmaṇa, o sa naglalagablab na apoy—mga gawaing itinuturing na mabigat na paglabag sa dharma.
धर्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma teaches that certain beings and symbols—especially the cow, the brāhmaṇa, and fire—are to be approached with reverence and self-control; contemptuous physical aggression (even by kicking) is a serious breach of dharma that yields heavy moral fault (doṣa).
Dharma, as the speaker, announces that he will list the specific faults and consequences connected with an act of arrogant disrespect—touching/striking with the foot a cow, a venerable brāhmaṇa, or a blazing fire—and urges the listeners to pay close attention.