Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
धनं वा जीवनायालं गृहं वा सपरिच्छदम् । मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्याया गोप्ता गोब्राह्मणस्य च
dhanaṃ vā jīvanāyālaṃ gṛhaṃ vā saparicchadam | mucyate brahmahatyāyā goptā gobrāhmaṇasya ca ||
ব্যাসে ক’লে—জীৱন-নিৰ্বাহৰ বাবে যথেষ্ট ধন দান কৰিলেও, অথবা সকলো সামগ্ৰীৰে সজোৱা গৃহ দান কৰিলেও—যি গো আৰু ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ ৰক্ষক হৈ আছে, সি ব্ৰহ্মহত্যাৰ পাপৰ পৰা মুক্ত হয়।
व्यास उवाच
Protection of cows and brāhmaṇas, coupled with substantial restitution through life-sustaining gifts (wealth or a fully furnished house), is presented as a powerful means of release from even the grave sin of brahma-hatyā.
In Vyāsa’s instruction within Śānti Parva’s dharma discourse, a specific expiatory pathway is stated: a guardian of cows and brāhmaṇas becomes freed from brahma-hatyā by making major gifts that secure another’s livelihood—either sufficient wealth or a well-provisioned home.