Shloka 28
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
हुताशनस्तु बुबुधे मण्डूकस्य च पैशुनम् शशाप स तमासाद्य न रसान् वेत्स्यसीति वै
hutāśanas tu bubudhe maṇḍūkasya ca paiśunam | śaśāpa sa tam āsādya na rasān vetsyasīti vai ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Naunawaan ni Agni, ang diyos ng apoy (Hutāśana), ang masamang pagsusumbong ng palaka. Lumapit siya rito at nagwika ng sumpa: “Tunay ngang hindi mo na malalasahan ang mga lasa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Malicious speech—especially tale-bearing meant to harm—violates dharma and brings consequences. The verse frames paiśunya (spiteful informing) as ethically blameworthy, leading to loss of enjoyment (symbolized by the inability to taste).
Agni realizes that the frog has acted as a malicious informer. He goes to the frog and curses him, declaring that the frog will not experience tastes (rasas).