Shloka 12
गोमूल्यनिर्णयः — The Determination of Value through the Cow
Nahuṣa–Cyavana Episode
बन्दी तु जायते वैश्यान्मागधो वाक्यजीवन: । शूद्रान्निषादो मत्स्यघ्न: क्षत्रियायां व्यतिक्रमात्
bhīṣma uvāca | bandī tu jāyate vaiśyān māgadho vākyajīvanaḥ | śūdrān niṣādo matsyaghnaḥ kṣatriyāyāṃ vyatikramāt ||
毗湿摩说道：吠舍男子若越礼与刹帝利女子结合，便生一子，名为“班底”（Bandī）或“摩伽陀”（Māgadha）；其以言语为生——以称颂、宣扬他人而活。又首陀罗男子若同样越礼与刹帝利女子结合，则生“尼沙陀”（Niṣāda），其业为杀鱼。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a dharma-based view that crossing prescribed social boundaries (vyatikrama) is consequential, producing specific social identities and associated livelihoods; it uses genealogy to reinforce norms of social order.
Bhishma is instructing on dharma and social classifications, describing the traditional epic account of how certain groups (Bandī/Māgadha and Niṣāda) are said to arise from transgressive unions involving a Kṣatriya woman, and what occupations they are associated with.