The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
तस्मात्तवापि भवतु ह्येतदेव हि भोजनम् । नृमांसं रक्षसामेव भोज्यं दत्तं मम त्वया ॥ २६ ॥
tasmāttavāpi bhavatu hyetadeva hi bhojanam | nṛmāṃsaṃ rakṣasāmeva bhojyaṃ dattaṃ mama tvayā || 26 ||
“Kaya naman, hayaang ito na rin ang maging pagkain mo. Ang laman ng tao ay pagkain lamang para sa mga Raksasa—ito ay ibinigay mo sa akin.”
Unspecified (a dialogue voice addressing 'you')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
It draws a sharp dharmic boundary: consuming human flesh is portrayed as a rākṣasa trait, warning that one’s food-choice reflects one’s inner nature (sattva vs. tamas) and moral standing.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by emphasizing purity and restraint: devotion to Vishnu is traditionally aligned with non-violence and sattvic conduct, while rākṣasa-like habits are depicted as spiritually degrading.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught here; the takeaway is ethical discipline (dharma) through regulated diet and avoidance of extreme हिंसा (violence).