The Rules of Edible and Forbidden Food

Verse 1 (padma.3.56.1)

व्यास उवाच । नाद्याच्छूद्रस्य विप्रोन्नं मोहाद्वा यदि कामतः । स शूद्रयोनिं व्रजति यस्तु भुंक्ते त्वनापदि ।

vyāsa uvāca nādyācchūdrasya vipronnaṁ mohādvā yadi kāmataḥ sa śūdrayoniṁ vrajati yastu bhuṁkte tvanāpadi

Vyasa said: A Brahmin should not eat a Shudra's food, whether out of delusion or desire; whoever eats it without being in distress goes to a Shudra's womb.

Verse 2 (padma.3.56.2)

षण्मासान्यो द्विजो भुंक्ते शूद्रस्यान्नं विगर्हितम् । जीवन्नेव भवेच्छूद्रो मृतः श्वा चाभिजायते ।

ṣaṇmāsānyo dvijo bhuṁkte śūdrasyānnaṁ vigarhitam jīvanneva bhavecchūdro mṛtaḥ śvā cābhijāyate

Whatever twice-born eats a Shudra's censured food for six months becomes a Shudra even while living, and after death is born as a dog.

Verse 3 (padma.3.56.3)

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्रस्य च मुनीश्वराः । यस्यान्नेनोदरस्थेन मृतस्तद्योनिमाप्नुयात् ।

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṁ śūdrasya ca munīśvarāḥ yasyānnenodarasthena mṛtastadyonimāpnuyāt

O lords of sages, whichever food — of a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra — remains in the belly at the time of death, one obtains that corresponding womb.

Verse 4 (padma.3.56.4)

राजान्नं वर्तकान्नं च षंढान्नं चर्म्मकारिणाम् । गणान्नं गणिकान्नं च षडन्नं च विवर्जयेत् ।

rājānnaṁ vartakānnaṁ ca ṣaṁḍhānnaṁ carmmakāriṇām gaṇānnaṁ gaṇikānnaṁ ca ṣaḍannaṁ ca vivarjayet

Food of a king, food of a fowler, food of a eunuch, of a leather-worker, food of a communal gathering, and food of a courtesan — these six kinds of food should be avoided.

Verse 5 (padma.3.56.5)

चक्रोपजीवि रजक तस्करध्वजिनां तथा । गांधर्वलोहकारान्नं मृतकान्नं विवर्जयेत् ।

cakropajīvi rajaka taskaradhvajināṁ tathā gāṁdharvalohakārānnaṁ mṛtakānnaṁ vivarjayet

Food of one who lives by a wheel, a washerman, and a thief's band; food of a musician, a blacksmith, and food offered for the dead should be avoided.

Verse 6 (padma.3.56.6)

कुलाल चित्रकारान्नं वार्धुषेः पतितस्य च । पौनर्भवच्छत्रिकयोरभिशप्तस्य चैव हि ।

kulāla citrakārānnaṁ vārdhuṣeḥ patitasya ca paunarbhavacchatrikayorabhiśaptasya caiva hi

Food of a potter, a painter, a usurer, and of a fallen person; of a remarried woman, of an umbrella-maker, and of one who is cursed —

Verse 7 (padma.3.56.7)

सुवर्णकार शैलूष व्याध वंध्यातुरस्य च । चिकित्सकस्य चैवान्नं पुंश्चल्या दंडकस्य च ।

suvarṇakāra śailūṣa vyādha vaṁdhyāturasya ca cikitsakasya caivānnaṁ puṁścalyā daṁḍakasya ca

Food of a goldsmith, an actor, a hunter, a barren or sick person, and food of a physician, of a harlot, and of an executioner.

Verse 8 (padma.3.56.8)

स्तेन नास्तिकयोरन्नं देवतानिंदकस्य च । सोमविक्रयिणश्चान्नं श्वपाकस्य विशेषतः ।

stena nāstikayorannaṁ devatāniṁdakasya ca somavikrayiṇaścānnaṁ śvapākasya viśeṣataḥ

Food of a thief and an atheist, and of one who disparages the gods; food of a seller of Soma, and especially of an outcaste dog-cooker —

Verse 9 (padma.3.56.9)

भार्य्याजितस्य चैवान्नं यस्य चोपपतिर्गृहे । उत्सृष्टस्य कदर्यस्य तथैवोच्छिष्टभोजिनः ।

bhāryyājitasya caivānnaṁ yasya copapatirgṛhe utsṛṣṭasya kadaryasya tathaivocchiṣṭabhojinaḥ

Food of one dominated by his wife, and of one in whose house there is a paramour; food of a disgraced man, of a miser, and of one who eats leftovers.

Verse 10 (padma.3.56.10)

पापीयोन्नं च संघान्नं शस्त्राजीवस्य चैव हि । भीतस्य रुदितस्यान्नमवक्रुष्टं परिक्षतम् ।

pāpīyonnaṁ ca saṁghānnaṁ śastrājīvasya caiva hi bhītasya ruditasyānnamavakruṣṭaṁ parikṣatam

Food of a wicked man, food of a self-serving faction, and of one who lives by weapons; the food of one who is afraid, weeping, or reviled or damaged —

Verse 11 (padma.3.56.11)

ब्रह्मद्विषः पापरुचेः श्राद्धान्नं मृतकस्य च । वृथापाकस्य चैवान्नं शावान्नं चातुरस्य च ।

brahmadviṣaḥ pāparuceḥ śrāddhānnaṁ mṛtakasya ca vṛthāpākasya caivānnaṁ śāvānnaṁ cāturasya ca

Food of one who hates Brahmins, of one delighting in sin; shraddha food and food connected to the dead; food cooked purposelessly, and food of a time of mourning or sickness.

Verse 12 (padma.3.56.12)

अप्रजानां तु नारीणां कृतघ्नस्य तथैव च । कारुकान्नं विशेषेण शस्त्रविक्रयिणस्तथा ।

aprajānāṁ tu nārīṇāṁ kṛtaghnasya tathaiva ca kārukānnaṁ viśeṣeṇa śastravikrayiṇastathā

Food of childless women, and likewise of an ungrateful person; food of a craftsman especially, and of a seller of weapons —

Verse 13 (padma.3.56.13)

शौंडान्नं घांटिकान्नं च भिषजामन्नमेव च । विद्वत्प्रजननस्यान्नं परिवेत्रन्नमेव च ।

śauṁḍānnaṁ ghāṁṭikānnaṁ ca bhiṣajāmannameva ca vidvatprajananasyānnaṁ parivetrannameva ca

Food of a drunkard, food of a gambling-house keeper, and food of physicians; food related to begetting a child through a substitute by a learned man, and food of a younger brother who marries before the elder —

Verse 14 (padma.3.56.14)

पुनर्भुवो विशेषेण तथैव दिधिषूपतेः । अवज्ञातं चावधूतं सरोषं विस्मयान्वितम् ।

punarbhuvo viśeṣeṇa tathaiva didhiṣūpateḥ avajñātaṁ cāvadhūtaṁ saroṣaṁ vismayānvitam

Food of a re-married woman especially, and likewise of the husband of an elder sister married after a younger one; food given with contempt, or discarded, or given in anger or with disdain —

Verse 15 (padma.3.56.15)

गुरोरपि न भोक्तव्यमन्नं संस्कारवर्जितम् । दुष्कृतं हि मनुष्यस्य सर्वमन्ने व्यवस्थितम् ।

gurorapi na bhoktavyamannaṁ saṁskāravarjitam duṣkṛtaṁ hi manuṣyasya sarvamanne vyavasthitam

Even from a guru, food devoid of proper preparation should not be eaten. For all of a man's sin resides in his food.

Verse 16 (padma.3.56.16)

यो यस्यान्नं समश्नाति स तस्याश्नाति किल्बिषम् । अर्द्धका कुलं मित्रं च गोपालो वाहनापि तौ ।

yo yasyānnaṁ samaśnāti sa tasyāśnāti kilbiṣam arddhakā kulaṁ mitraṁ ca gopālo vāhanāpi tau

Whoever eats another's food eats that person's sin as well. A half-share cultivator's food, a friend's, a cowherd's, and a servant's —

Verse 17 (padma.3.56.17)

एते शूद्रेषु भोज्यान्ना यश्चात्मानं निवेदयेत् । कुशीलवः कुंभकश्च क्षेत्रकर्मक एव च ।

ete śūdreṣu bhojyānnā yaścātmānaṁ nivedayet kuśīlavaḥ kuṁbhakaśca kṣetrakarmaka eva ca

these are edible from among Shudras, along with one who offers himself in service. An actor, a potter, and a field-laborer —

Verse 18 (padma.3.56.18)

एते शूद्रेषु भोज्यान्ना दृष्ट्वा स्वल्पगुणं बुधैः । पायसं स्नेहपक्वं च गोरसश्चैव सक्तवः ।

ete śūdreṣu bhojyānnā dṛṣṭvā svalpaguṇaṁ budhaiḥ pāyasaṁ snehapakvaṁ ca gorasaścaiva saktavaḥ

these too are edible among Shudras, recognized by the wise as of little fault. Rice-milk, food cooked in oil, dairy products, and roasted grain-flour —

Verse 19 (padma.3.56.19)

पिण्याकं चैव तैलं च शूद्राद्ग्राह्यं द्विजातिभिः । वृंताकं नालिकाशाकं कुसुंभं भस्मकं तथा ।

piṇyākaṁ caiva tailaṁ ca śūdrādgrāhyaṁ dvijātibhiḥ vṛṁtākaṁ nālikāśākaṁ kusuṁbhaṁ bhasmakaṁ tathā

oil-cake, and oil — these may be received by the twice-born even from a Shudra. Eggplant, lotus-stalk vegetable, safflower, and bhasmaka —

Verse 20 (padma.3.56.20)

पलांडुं लशुनं शुक्तं निर्य्यासं चैव वर्जयेत् । छत्राकं विड्वराहं च स्विन्नं पीयूषमेव च ।

palāṁḍuṁ laśunaṁ śuktaṁ niryyāsaṁ caiva varjayet chatrākaṁ viḍvarāhaṁ ca svinnaṁ pīyūṣameva ca

onion, garlic, fermented things, and tree-gum should be avoided. Mushrooms, the plant vidvaraha, over-steamed food, and beestings —

Verse 21 (padma.3.56.21)

विलयं विमुखं चैव कोरकाणि विवर्जयेत् । गृंजनं किंशुकं चैव कूष्मांडं च तथैव च ।

vilayaṁ vimukhaṁ caiva korakāṇi vivarjayet gṛṁjanaṁ kiṁśukaṁ caiva kūṣmāṁḍaṁ ca tathaiva ca

vilaya, vimukha, and buds/sprouts should be avoided. The plant grinjana, kimshuka flower, and pumpkin —

Verse 22 (padma.3.56.22)

उदुंबरमलाबुं च जग्ध्वा पतति वै द्विजः । तथा कृसरसंयावौ पायसापूपमेव च ।

uduṁbaramalābuṁ ca jagdhvā patati vai dvijaḥ tathā kṛsarasaṁyāvau pāyasāpūpameva ca

eating the fig fruit, and the gourd, a twice-born falls in status. Likewise krisara, samyava, payasa, and apupa —

Verse 23 (padma.3.56.23)

अनुपाकृत मांसं च देवान्नानि हवींषि च । यवागूं मातुलिगं च मत्स्यानप्यनुपाकृतान् ।

anupākṛta māṁsaṁ ca devānnāni havīṁṣi ca yavāgūṁ mātuligaṁ ca matsyānapyanupākṛtān

unprepared meat, food offered to gods, and sacrificial oblations; gruel, the citron fruit, and uncooked fish —

Verse 24 (padma.3.56.24)

नीपं कपित्थं प्लक्षं च प्रयत्नेन विवर्जयेत् । पिण्याकं चोद्धृतस्नेहं देवधान्यं तथैव च ।

nīpaṁ kapitthaṁ plakṣaṁ ca prayatnena vivarjayet piṇyākaṁ coddhṛtasnehaṁ devadhānyaṁ tathaiva ca

the nipa flower, the kapittha fruit, and the plaksha fig — one should diligently avoid these. Oil-extracted cake, and 'divine grain,' likewise —

Verse 25 (padma.3.56.25)

रात्रौ च तिलसंबंधं प्रयत्नेन दधि त्यजेत् । नाश्नीयात्पयसा तक्रं नाभक्ष्यानुपयोजयेत् ।

rātrau ca tilasaṁbaṁdhaṁ prayatnena dadhi tyajet nāśnīyātpayasā takraṁ nābhakṣyānupayojayet

at night, one should diligently avoid dishes involving sesame and curd. One should not eat buttermilk with milk; one should not partake of what is inedible.

Verse 26 (padma.3.56.26)

कृमिदुष्टं भावदुष्टं मृत्संसर्गं च वर्जयेत् । कृमिकीटावपन्नं च सुहृत्क्लेदं च नित्यशः ।

kṛmiduṣṭaṁ bhāvaduṣṭaṁ mṛtsaṁsargaṁ ca varjayet kṛmikīṭāvapannaṁ ca suhṛtkledaṁ ca nityaśaḥ

He should avoid food spoiled by worms, spoiled in essence, and mixed with earth; food fallen upon by worms and insects, and always avoid decayed food from a friend's leftovers.

Verse 27 (padma.3.56.27)

श्वाघ्रातं च पुनः सिद्धं चंडालावेक्षितं तथा । उदक्यया च पतितैर्गवा संघ्रातमेव च ।

śvāghrātaṁ ca punaḥ siddhaṁ caṁḍālāvekṣitaṁ tathā udakyayā ca patitairgavā saṁghrātameva ca

food sniffed by a dog and then cooked again, and food looked at by a Chandala; food touched by a menstruating woman or fallen persons, and food sniffed at by a cow —

Verse 28 (padma.3.56.28)

असंगतं पर्य्युषितं पर्यस्तान्नं च नित्यशः । काककुक्कुटसंस्पृष्टं कृमिभिश्चैव संगतम् ।

asaṁgataṁ paryyuṣitaṁ paryastānnaṁ ca nityaśaḥ kākakukkuṭasaṁspṛṣṭaṁ kṛmibhiścaiva saṁgatam

food inconsistent, stale, and overturned should always be avoided; food touched by a crow or a cock, and food come into contact with worms;

Verse 29 (padma.3.56.29)

मनुष्यैरप्यवघ्रातं कुष्ठिना स्पृष्टमेव च । न रजस्वलया दत्तं न पुंश्चल्या सरोगया ।

manuṣyairapyavaghrātaṁ kuṣṭhinā spṛṣṭameva ca na rajasvalayā dattaṁ na puṁścalyā sarogayā

food sniffed at even by other people, and food touched by a leper; food should not be given by a menstruating woman, nor by a harlot, nor by a diseased person;

Verse 30 (padma.3.56.30)

मलवद्वाससा वापि परवासोथ वर्जयेत् । विवत्सायाश्च गोक्षीरं मेषस्यानिर्दशस्य च ।

malavadvāsasā vāpi paravāsotha varjayet vivatsāyāśca gokṣīraṁ meṣasyānirdaśasya ca

nor should one accept food given while wearing soiled clothing, or another's garment. The milk of a cow without a calf, and of a ewe within ten days —

Verse 31 (padma.3.56.31)

आविकं संधिनीक्षीरमपेयं मनुरब्रवीत् । बलाकं हंसदात्यूहं कलविंकं शुकं तथा ।

āvikaṁ saṁdhinīkṣīramapeyaṁ manurabravīt balākaṁ haṁsadātyūhaṁ kalaviṁkaṁ śukaṁ tathā

sheep's milk, and the milk of an animal newly in heat — Manu declared these undrinkable. The crane, the swan, the dātyūha, the sparrow, and the parrot,

Verse 32 (padma.3.56.32)

कुरुरं च चकोरं च जालपादं च कोकिलम् । वायसान्खंजरीटांश्च श्येनं गृध्रं तथैव च ।

kururaṁ ca cakoraṁ ca jālapādaṁ ca kokilam vāyasānkhaṁjarīṭāṁśca śyenaṁ gṛdhraṁ tathaiva ca

the kurara, the chakora, the web-footed birds, the koel, crows, wagtails, the hawk, and the vulture likewise,

Verse 33 (padma.3.56.33)

उलूकं चक्रवाकं च भासं पारावतं तथा । कपोतं टिट्टिभं चैव ग्रामकुक्कुटमेव च ।

ulūkaṁ cakravākaṁ ca bhāsaṁ pārāvataṁ tathā kapotaṁ ṭiṭṭibhaṁ caiva grāmakukkuṭameva ca

the owl, the chakravaka, the bhasa, the wild pigeon, the domestic dove, the tittibha, and the village cock —

Verse 34 (padma.3.56.34)

सिंहं व्याघ्रं च मार्जारं श्वानं सूकरमेव च । शृगालं मर्कटं चैव गर्द्दभं न च भक्षयेत् ।

siṁhaṁ vyāghraṁ ca mārjāraṁ śvānaṁ sūkarameva ca śṛgālaṁ markaṭaṁ caiva garddabhaṁ na ca bhakṣayet

lion, tiger, cat, dog, and pig also; jackal, monkey, and donkey — these should not be eaten.

Verse 35 (padma.3.56.35)

न भक्षयेत्सर्पमृगाञ्छिखिनोन्यान्वनेचरान् । जलेचरान्स्थलचरान्प्राणिनश्चेति धारणा ।

na bhakṣayetsarpamṛgāñchikhinonyānvanecarān jalecarānsthalacarānprāṇinaśceti dhāraṇā

One should not eat serpents, deer, peacocks, or other forest-dwellers; the same rule applies to water-dwelling and land-dwelling creatures generally.

Verse 36 (padma.3.56.36)

गोधा कूर्मः शशः खड्गः सल्लकश्चेति सत्तमाः । भक्ष्यान्पंचनखान्नित्यं मनुराह प्रजापतिः ।

godhā kūrmaḥ śaśaḥ khaḍgaḥ sallakaśceti sattamāḥ bhakṣyānpaṁcanakhānnityaṁ manurāha prajāpatiḥ

O best of men, the iguana, the tortoise, the hare, the rhinoceros, and the porcupine — these five clawed animals Manu Prajapati declared to always be edible.

Verse 37 (padma.3.56.37)

मत्स्यान्सशल्कान्भुंजीत मांसं रौरवमेव च । निवेद्य देवताभ्यस्तु ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च नान्यथा ।

matsyānsaśalkānbhuṁjīta māṁsaṁ rauravameva ca nivedya devatābhyastu brāhmaṇebhyaśca nānyathā

One may eat scaled fish, and likewise the meat of the deer called Raurava — only having offered it to the gods and to Brahmins, not otherwise.

Verse 38 (padma.3.56.38)

मयूरं तित्तिरं चैव कपोतं च कपिंजलम् । वार्ध्रीणसं बकं भक्ष्यं मीनं हंसं पराजितम् ।

mayūraṁ tittiraṁ caiva kapotaṁ ca kapiṁjalam vārdhrīṇasaṁ bakaṁ bhakṣyaṁ mīnaṁ haṁsaṁ parājitam

The peacock, the francolin partridge, the pigeon, and the grey partridge; the fish vardhrinasa, the heron are edible; and fish and swan obtained under specific circumstances —

Verse 39 (padma.3.56.39)

शफरी सिंहतुंडं च तथा पाठीनरोहितौ । मत्स्याश्चैते समुद्दिष्टा भक्षणीया द्विजोत्तमाः ।

śapharī siṁhatuṁḍaṁ ca tathā pāṭhīnarohitau matsyāścaite samuddiṣṭā bhakṣaṇīyā dvijottamāḥ

the shaphari, the simhatunda, and the pathina and rohita fish — these fish, O best of the twice-born, are declared to be edible.

Verse 40 (padma.3.56.40)

प्रोक्षितं भक्षयेदेषां मांसं च द्विजकाम्यया । यथाविधि प्रयुक्तं च प्राणानामपि चात्यये ।

prokṣitaṁ bhakṣayedeṣāṁ māṁsaṁ ca dvijakāmyayā yathāvidhi prayuktaṁ ca prāṇānāmapi cātyaye

One should eat the consecrated meat of these, at a Brahmin's request, duly employed according to rule, even in extremity of life.

Verse 41 (padma.3.56.41)

भक्षयेन्नैव मांसानि शेषभोजी न लिप्यते । औषधार्थमशक्तो वा नियोगाद्यज्ञकारणात् ।

bhakṣayennaiva māṁsāni śeṣabhojī na lipyate auṣadhārthamaśakto vā niyogādyajñakāraṇāt

Otherwise, one should not eat meat at all; but one who eats it as sacrificial leftovers is not tainted — whether for medicine, incapacity, ritual obligation, or a sacrificial purpose.

Verse 42 (padma.3.56.42)

आमंत्रितश्च यः श्राद्धे दैवे वा मांसमुत्सृजेत् । यावंति पशुरोमाणि तावन्नरकमृच्छति ।

āmaṁtritaśca yaḥ śrāddhe daive vā māṁsamutsṛjet yāvaṁti paśuromāṇi tāvannarakamṛcchati

Whoever, invited to a shraddha or a divine rite, refuses the offered meat — for as many hairs as are on that animal's body, so many hells he incurs.

Verse 43 (padma.3.56.43)

अदेयं वाप्यपेयं वा तथैवास्पृश्यमेव वा । द्विजातीनामनालोक्यं नित्यं मद्यमिति स्थितिः ।

adeyaṁ vāpyapeyaṁ vā tathaivāspṛśyameva vā dvijātīnāmanālokyaṁ nityaṁ madyamiti sthitiḥ

Something not to be given, not to be drunk, and likewise not to be touched, and never even to be looked upon by the twice-born — this is the settled status of liquor.

Verse 44 (padma.3.56.44)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मद्यं नित्यं विवर्जयेत् । पीत्वा पतति कर्म्मभ्यस्त्वसंभाष्यो भवेद्द्विजः ।

tasmātsarvaprayatnena madyaṁ nityaṁ vivarjayet pītvā patati karmmabhyastvasaṁbhāṣyo bhaveddvijaḥ

Therefore, with every effort, one should always avoid liquor. Having drunk it, one falls from proper deeds, and a twice-born becomes unfit to be conversed with.

Verse 45 (padma.3.56.45)

भक्षयित्वाप्यभक्ष्याणि पीत्वाऽपेयान्यपि द्विजः । नाधिकारी भवेत्तावद्यावत्तन्न जहात्यधः ।

bhakṣayitvāpyabhakṣyāṇi pītvā'peyānyapi dvijaḥ nādhikārī bhavettāvadyāvattanna jahātyadhaḥ

A twice-born, having eaten what is inedible, or drunk what is undrinkable, does not become fit for sacred rites until he has expelled it through proper purification.

Verse 46 (padma.3.56.46)

तस्मात्परिहरेन्नित्यमभक्ष्याणि प्रयत्नतः । अपेयानि च विप्रो वै तथा चेद्याति रौरवम् ।

tasmātpariharennityamabhakṣyāṇi prayatnataḥ apeyāni ca vipro vai tathā cedyāti rauravam

Therefore one should always diligently avoid inedible foods, and a Brahmin should avoid undrinkable liquids; for if he does not, he goes to the Raurava hell.