Anushasanika Parva — The law of diet-The position of various castes about that

Yudhishthira said Who are those persons, O Bharata from whom a Brahman in this world may take his food? From whom may a Kshatriya, a Vaishya and a Shudra take their food respectively?

Bhishma said A Brahmana may take his food from another Brahmana or from a Kshatriya or from a Vaishya but he must never take food from a Shudra.

A Kshatriya may take his food from a Brahmana, a Kshatriya or a Vaishya. He must, however, not take food given by Shudras who are given to evil ways and who partake of all sorts of food without any hesitation.

Brahmanas and Kshatriyas can partake of food given by such Vaishyas as serve the sacred fire everyday as are faultless in character and as perform the VOW of Chaturmasya.

But the man who accepts food from a Shudra, swallows the very abomination of the Earth and drinks the excretions of the human body, and partakes of the filth of all the world.

He partakes of the very filth of the Earth who takes his food thus from a Shudra. Indeed, those Brahinanas who accept their food from Shudras, take the dirt of the Earth.

If one engages in the service of a Shudra, he is doomed to perdition though he may duly perform all the rites of his caste. A Brahmana a Kshatriya or a Vaishya, so engaging is doomed although given to the proper performance of religious rites.

It is said that a Brahmana's duty consists in studying the Vedas and seeking the behoof of humanity that a Kshatriyas duty consists in protecting men and that a Vaishyas promoting their material prosperity.

A Vaishya lives by distributing the fruits of his own deeds and agriculture. The breeding of kine and trade are the legitimate duties in which a Vaishya may engage without fear of censure.

The man who gives up his own proper occupation and does that of a Shudra, should be regarded as a Shudra, and on no account should any food be accepted from him.

Professors of medicine mercenary soldiers, the priest who acts as warder of the house, and persons who devote a whole year to study without any profit are all to be regarded as Shudras.

And those who foolishly partake of food offered at ceremonials in a Shudra's house, suffer from a dreadful disaster. On account of partaking such forbidden food, they loose their family strength and energy, and acquire the status of lower animals degenerating to the position of dogs fallen in virtue and devoid of all religious observances.

He who takes food from a physician, takes but an excrement; the food of a harlot is like urine; that of a skilled mechanic is like blood.

If a good Brahmana takes the food of one who lives by his learning. he is considered as taking the food of a Shudra. All good men should avoid such food.

The food of a person who is censured by all, is said to be like a drink from a pool of blood. The acceptance of food from a wicked person is as the killing of Brahmana.

One should not accept food if he is slighted and not received with due honors by the giver. A Brahmana, who does so, is soon possessed by disease, and his family soon becomes extinct.

By accepting food from the warder of a city, one degenerates to the status, of the lowest outcast.

If a Brahmana accepts food from one who is guilty of slaying either a cow or a Brahmana, or from one who has committed adultery with his preceptor's wife, or from a drunkard, he helps to promote the family of Rakshasas.

By taking food from a eunuch or from an ungrateful person, or from one who has misappropriated money entrusted to his care, one is born in the country of the Sabaras situated beyond the limit of the middle country.

I have thus duly described to you the persons from whom food may be accepted and from whom it may not. Now tell me, O Kunti, what else do you wish to hear from me today. son of misappropriated money entrusted to his care, one is born in the country of the Sabaras situated beyond the limit of the middle country.

I have thus duly described to you the persons from whom food may be accepted and from whom it may not. Now tell me, O Kunti, what else do you wish to hear from me today. son of