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Shloka 50

Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation

अथवा शिश्रवृषणावादायाञ्जलिना स्वयम्‌,अथवा अपने शिश्न और अण्डकोषको स्वयं ही काटकर अगज्जलिमें लेकर सीधे नैरऋत्य-दिशाकी ओर जाता हुआ गिर पड़े या ब्राह्मणके लिये प्राणोंका परित्याग कर दे तो शुद्ध हो जाता है

athavā śiśna-vṛṣaṇau ādāya añjalinā svayam, athavā ātmanaḥ śiśna-aṇḍakośau svayam eva chittvā agra-añjalau gṛhītvā ṛjuṃ nairṛtīṃ diśaṃ gacchan patet; athavā brāhmaṇārthe prāṇān parityajet, tataḥ śuddho bhavati.

Bhishma said: Alternatively, taking his penis and testicles in his own cupped hands—or else cutting off his own penis and scrotum himself, holding them in his joined palms, and proceeding straight toward the south‑western quarter until he falls down—or, again, if he gives up his life for the sake of a Brahmin, he becomes purified. The passage frames extreme self‑sacrifice and life‑offering as expiatory acts, presenting a severe ethic of atonement tied to protecting or serving a Brahmin.

अथवाor else
अथवा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथवा
शिश्नवृषणौthe penis and the testicles
शिश्नवृषणौ:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशिश्नवृषण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
आदायhaving taken
आदाय:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + दा
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
अञ्जलिनाwith (his) cupped hands
अञ्जलिना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअञ्जलि
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
स्वयम्himself
स्वयम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम्

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
B
Brahmin
N
Nairṛti (as the south-western quarter/personified direction)