Shloka 19
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
कीर्तयन् गुणमन्नानामघृणी च पुनः पुनः । त॑ वै फलार्थिन मन्ये भ्रातरं तर्कचक्षुषा
kīrtayan guṇam annānām aghṛṇī ca punaḥ punaḥ | taṁ vai phalārthinam manye bhrātaraṁ tarkacakṣuṣā ||
他一再称颂食物的“优点”，毫无厌恶之心；我以理智之眼观之，断定那兄长乃求报之人——为利欲所驱，非为克制与原则所守。
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes reward-seeking disguised as discipline: repeatedly praising food and consuming without scruple reveals attachment to ‘phala’ (personal gain). True ethical restraint is measured by inner motivation, not outward learning or status.
A Brahmin speaker evaluates his brother’s conduct. Observing his repeated talk about the merits of food and his lack of aversion, he concludes—using rational judgment—that the brother is driven by desire for results rather than principled self-control.