Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Agastya-Māhātmya and Vasiṣṭha’s Protection of the Ādityas
Khalina Daityas; Sarayū Etiology
विद्योपजीविनो>न्नं च यो भुड्क्ते साधुसम्मत: । तदप्यन्नं यथा शौद्रं तत् साधु: परिवर्जयेत्
vidyopajīvino 'nnaṃ ca yo bhuṅkte sādhusammataḥ | tad apy annaṃ yathā śūdraṃ tat sādhuḥ parivarjayet ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kahit pa ituring na kagalang-galang sa paningin ng mga matuwid, kung kumain ang isang tao ng pagkain ng Brahmin na nabubuhay sa pagbebenta ng karunungan, ang pagkaing iyon ay ituturing ding gaya ng pagkaing kaugnay ng ikinabubuhay ng Śūdra. Kaya ang tunay na mabuting tao ay dapat umiwas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the moral quality of food depends on the giver’s means of livelihood: accepting food from a Brahmin who ‘sells’ learning is censured, and the virtuous should avoid such food, emphasizing integrity in earning and carefulness in receiving.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on dharma and proper conduct, giving a rule about whom one should accept food from, using a strong comparison to discourage reliance on questionable sources of sustenance.