13.025
brahma-ghāti-svarūpam
The nature of a killer of Brahman.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
idaṃ me tattvato rājan vaktum arhasi bhārata। ahiṃsayitvā keneha brahmahatyā vidhīyate ॥13-25-1॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
vyāsam āmantrya rājendra purā yat pṛṣṭavān aham। tat te 'ham sampravakṣyāmi tad ihaika-manāḥ śṛṇu ॥13-25-2॥
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)
caturthas tvaṃ vasiṣṭhasya tattvam ākhyāhi me mune। ahiṃsayitvā keneha brahmahatyā vidhīyate ॥13-25-3॥
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)
iti pṛṣṭo mahārāja parāśaraśarīrajaḥ। abravīnnipuṇo dharme niḥsaṃśayamanuttamam ॥13-25-4॥
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)
brāhmaṇaṃ svayam āhūya bhikṣārthe kṛśavṛttinam। brūyān nāstīti yaḥ paścāt taṃ vidyād brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-5॥
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)
madhyasthasya iha viprasya yaḥ anūcānasya bhārata। vṛttiṃ harati durbuddhiḥ taṃ vidyāt brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-6॥
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)
gokulasya tṛṣārtasya jalārthe vasudhādhipa। utpādayati yo vighnaṃ taṃ vidyād brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-7॥
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)
yaḥ pravṛttāṃ śrutiṃ samyak-śāstraṃ vā munibhiḥ kṛtam। dūṣayaty anabhijñāya taṃ vidyād brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-8॥
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)
ātmajāṃ rūpasampannāṃ mahatīṃ sadṛśe vare। na prayacchati yaḥ kanyāṃ taṃ vidyād brahmaghātinam ॥13-25-9॥
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)
adharmanirato mūḍho mithyā yo vai dvijātiṣu। dadyān marmātigaṃ śokaṃ taṃ vidyād brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-10॥
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)
cakṣuṣā viprahīnasya paṅgulasya jaḍasya vā। haret yo vai sarvasvaṃ taṃ vidyād brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-11॥
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)
āśrame vā vane vā yo grāme vā yadi vā pure। agniṃ samutsṛjen mohāt taṃ vidyād brahma-ghātinam ॥13-25-12॥
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)
