13.025
ब्रह्मघातिस्वरूपम्
The nature of a killer of Brahman.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
इदं मे तत्त्वतो राजन्वक्तुमर्हसि भारत। अहिंसयित्वा केनेह ब्रह्महत्या विधीयते ॥१३-२५-१॥
O Bhārata, O king, you are worthy to tell me this in reality. By whom here is the killing of a Brāhmaṇa performed without harming? (13-25-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
व्यासमामन्त्र्य राजेन्द्र पुरा यत्पृष्टवानहम्। तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि तदिहैकमनाः शृणु ॥१३-२५-२॥
O king, having addressed Vyāsa in the past regarding what I had asked, I shall now fully explain that to you; therefore, listen here with full attention. (13-25-2)
चतुर्थस्त्वं वसिष्ठस्य तत्त्वमाख्याहि मे मुने। अहिंसयित्वा केनेह ब्रह्महत्या विधीयते ॥१३-२५-३॥
O sage, you are the fourth of Vasiṣṭha; tell me the truth. By what, here, is the killing of a Brāhmaṇa prescribed, even without causing harm? (13-25-3)
इति पृष्टो महाराज पराशरशरीरजः। अब्रवीन्निपुणो धर्मे निःसंशयमनुत्तमम् ॥१३-२५-४॥
Thus, when questioned, O great king, the son of Parāśara, who was skilled in dharma, spoke the highest truth without any doubt. (13-25-4)
ब्राह्मणं स्वयमाहूय भिक्षार्थे कृशवृत्तिनम्। ब्रूयान्नास्तीति यः पश्चात्तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-५॥
If someone calls a Brāhmaṇa of meager means for alms and then afterwards tells him 'there is nothing,' know that person to be a killer of a Brāhmaṇa. (13-25-5)
मध्यस्थस्येह विप्रस्य योऽनूचानस्य भारत। वृत्तिं हरति दुर्बुद्धिस्तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-६॥
O Bhārata, know that evil-minded person who takes away the livelihood of a neutral brāhmaṇa or a student here as a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. (13-25-6)
गोकुलस्य तृषार्तस्य जलार्थे वसुधाधिप। उत्पादयति यो विघ्नं तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-७॥
O lord of the earth, know that whoever creates an obstacle to water for the thirsty people of the cowherd settlement is to be regarded as a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. (13-25-7)
यः प्रवृत्तां श्रुतिं सम्यक्षास्त्रं वा मुनिभिः कृतम्। दूषयत्यनभिज्ञाय तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-८॥
Whoever, without understanding, defiles the established Veda or a proper treatise made by sages, should be known as a slayer of Brahman. (13-25-8)
आत्मजां रूपसम्पन्नां महतीं सदृशे वरे। न प्रयच्छति यः कन्यां तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-९॥
One who does not give his own beautiful and great daughter to a suitable groom should be known as a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. (13-25-9)
अधर्मनिरतो मूढो मिथ्या यो वै द्विजातिषु। दद्यान्मर्मातिगं शोकं तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-१०॥
One who is engaged in unrighteousness, deluded, and falsely causes deep sorrow among the twice-born—such a person should be known as a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. (13-25-10)
चक्षुषा विप्रहीनस्य पङ्गुलस्य जडस्य वा। हरेत यो वै सर्वस्वं तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-११॥
Whoever takes away all the property, whether by sight, from one deprived of a brāhmaṇa, a lame person, or a dull-witted person, should be known as a slayer of a brāhmaṇa. (13-25-11)
आश्रमे वा वने वा यो ग्रामे वा यदि वा पुरे। अग्निं समुत्सृजेन्मोहात्तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥१३-२५-१२॥
Whoever, whether in a hermitage, forest, village, or city, abandons fire out of delusion, should be known as a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. (13-25-12)
