Shloka 28
कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī
राक्षसान्नमसौ भुडुक्ते यो भुद्धक्ते हान्नमीदृशम् । “जिस अन्नपर थूक पड़ गयी हो
rākṣasānnam asau bhuṅkte yo bhuktvā hānnam īdṛśam |
毗舍波耶那说：凡食此类之食者，犹如吞食本应献与罗刹（Rākṣasa）之分。凡被唾沫所污、为虫所侵、他人食余之残、落发所染、以轻蔑而得、为泪水所渎、或被犬所触之食，在此世皆宣称属于罗刹之份。故明辨之人当以谨慎与思量，力行舍弃一切此类食物——纵处艰厄，亦守清净、自尊与合乎法（dharma）之行。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches discernment and self-restraint regarding food: one should avoid food that is physically or morally contaminated (spat upon, worm-infested, leftover, hair-contaminated, contemptuously given, tear-defiled, or dog-touched). Such food is metaphorically called ‘Rākṣasa’s share,’ implying it degrades one’s purity and dharmic standing.
Vaiśampāyana is conveying a dharmic instruction within the Shalya Parva context, emphasizing standards of purity and proper conduct. The statement functions as a normative guideline—classifying certain kinds of tainted food as unfit and urging the wise to renounce them.