Shloka 19
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
शूद्रान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे यो म्रियेद् द्विज: । आहिताग्निस्तथा यज्वा स शूद्रगतिभाग् भवेत्
śūdrānnenāvaśeṣeṇa jaṭhare yo mriyed dvijaḥ | āhitāgnis tathā yajvā sa śūdragatibhāg bhavet ||
Sinabi ni Mahādeva: “Kung ang isang dvija (dalawang ulit na isinilang) ay mamatay na may natitirang pagkaing ibinigay ng isang Śūdra sa kanyang tiyan, kung gayon—kahit pa siya’y nagpanatili ng mga banal na apoy at nagsagawa ng mga handog—magiging kabahagi siya ng kapalaran ng Śūdra, ibig sabihin, kailangang magtamo ng muling pagsilang sa kalagayang Śūdra.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that ritual status (being an āhitāgni or yajvā) does not override the karmic and dharmic consequences of violating prescribed conduct regarding food and purity; one’s end-state and rebirth are shaped by adherence to ācāra as well as ritual performance.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, Maheśvara is delivering a rule-like instruction about the consequences for a dvija who dies after consuming (and still retaining) food deemed improper by the text’s purity norms, stating that such a person attains a Śūdra-associated destiny despite prior sacrificial credentials.