13.104
The self-appropriation of Brahman;
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O bull among Bharatas, where do the men who are dull-witted, deluded, performing cruel deeds, and who steal the property of Brāhmaṇas, go? (13-104-1)
Bhīṣma said.
Here also, O Bhārata, they relate this ancient story, namely the dialogue between the Caṇḍāla and the Kṣatrabandhu. (13-104-2)
The kṣatriya said.
You appear as an old man, caṇḍāla, and behave like a child; being one who frequents the dust of dogs and donkeys, why do you avoid the cows? (13-104-3)
An action condemned by the virtuous is performed by a caṇḍāla. Why do you pour water defiled by cow-dust into the vessel? (13-104-4)
The outcaste said;
O king, once, the dust raised when the Brāhmaṇa's cows were stolen destroyed the Soma; those twice-born who drank that Soma (were affected). (13-104-5)
That king, having been initiated, also quickly entered hell together with all those priests, having enjoyed that Brahmin property. (13-104-6)
Those people there who drank milk, ghee, and curds—Brāhmaṇas and all Kṣatriyas together—all of them entered hell. (13-104-7)
Those women killed their sons and grandsons with milk, shaking them; the husband and wife tended their animals with good conduct. (13-104-8)
O king, I lived there as a celibate with my senses subdued; but my alms-food was tainted by their menstrual fluid, O lord of men. (13-104-9)
O king, I then became an outcaste; having experienced that, I died. The king, who was a stealer of brahmin's property, attained a state of instability. (13-104-10)
Therefore, no one should ever take even the slightest thing belonging to a brāhmaṇa. Having eaten what was destroyed by so much as the dust of a brāhmaṇa's wealth, look at the condition I am in. (13-104-11)
Therefore, Soma also is not to be sold by a wise person; for in this world, the sale of Soma is condemned by the wise. (13-104-12)
Those people who buy and sell this (person) in the case of a Kṣatriya, after reaching Vaivasvata (Yama), all go to the Raurava hell. (13-104-13)
But if a Vedic scholar knowingly sells soma that has been defiled by impurity, having done so for livelihood, he perishes for a long time, and, after reaching hell for thirty (years), lives by subsisting on dog excrement. (13-104-14)
Dog-like conduct, arrogance, and disorder regarding friends' wives—if one measures with the scale of righteousness, arrogance is found to exceed. (13-104-15)
Behold the sinful dog and the emaciated, discolored deer; through excessive pride, beings have come to this state. (13-104-16)
Indeed, I was born in a great family endowed with wealth. In another birth, O Lord, I was one who had mastered both knowledge and realization. (13-104-17)
There, even though I knew these faults, out of pride, then being enraged, I ate the flesh from the backs of creatures. (13-104-18)
I am that person who, by that and by that livelihood and food, has indeed attained this condition—see the course of time. (13-104-19)
Behold me, covered with dust, running very enraged—like a piece of cloth that is on fire, and tormented as if by bees. (13-104-20)
Householders cross over great sin through self-study and also by gifts of various kinds, as the wise have declared. (13-104-21)
Thus, O king, even a brāhmaṇa dwelling in a hermitage who has committed evil deeds, if he is free from all attachments, is indeed lifted up by the Vedas. (13-104-22)
But I, born indeed in a sinful womb, O best of Kṣatriyas, do not ascertain how I might be freed, thus indeed. (13-104-23)
O king, I possess remembrance of past births due to some previous auspicious deed, by which I indeed desire to attain liberation. (13-104-24)
O best of beings, I—who have sought your refuge—ask you this: Please tell me my doubt. How may I be released from the state of being a caṇḍāla? (13-104-25)
The king said.
Outcaste, promise by which you will attain liberation. If you give up your life for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa, you will attain the desired state. (13-104-26)
By giving your body to the flesh-eaters in the fire of battle, and sacrificing your life for the sake of the twice-born, you attain liberation—otherwise, you do not deserve liberation. (13-104-27)
Bhīṣma said;
O king, thus addressed, he, for the sake of sacred wealth, O scorcher of foes, sacrificed his life on the battlefield and indeed attained the desired state. (13-104-28)
Therefore, O son, O best of the Bharatas, Brahmanical wealth must be protected by you, if you, O mighty-armed one, desire the supreme and eternal goal. (13-104-29)
