Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26
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 ||
“Do đó, hãy để thứ này trở thành thức ăn của chính ngươi. Thịt người chỉ là thức ăn cho loài Dạ xoa (Rakshasa)—và ngươi đã dâng nó cho ta.”
Unspecified (a dialogue voice addressing 'you')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
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).