Shloka 31
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
ब्रह्मोवाच बहुधा विभजिष्यामि ब्रह्म॒वध्यामिमामहम् । शक्रस्थाघविमोक्षार्थ चतुर्भागं प्रतीच्छ वै,ब्रह्माजीने कहा--अग्निदेव! मैं इन्द्रको पापमुक्त करनेके लिये इस ब्रह्महत्याके कई भाग करूँगा। इसका एक चतुर्थाश तुम भी ग्रहण कर लो
brahmovāca bahudhā vibhajiṣyāmi brahma-vadhyām imām aham | śakrasya agha-vimokṣārthaṁ caturbhāgaṁ pratīccha vai ||
قال براهما: «سأقسّم إثمَ قتل البراهمة هذا إلى حصصٍ كثيرة. ومن أجل تخليص شَكرا (إندرا) من ذنبه، عليك أنت أيضاً أن تقبل ربعَ نصيبٍ منه.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine beings are shown as bound by moral causality: grave wrongdoing (brahma-hatyā) demands expiation, and restoration of order may involve distributing the burden of guilt so that cosmic balance and social-ethical norms are upheld.
Brahmā announces a plan to relieve Indra (Śakra) of the heavy guilt of brahma-slaying by dividing that guilt into portions; he instructs Agni to accept one quarter share as part of this apportionment.