Shloka 6
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
ब्रह्महत्यापनोदार्थमपृच्छद् ब्राह्मणान् बहून् । पर्यटन् पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां देशो देशे नराधिप:
brahmahatyāpanodārtham apṛcchad brāhmaṇān bahūn | paryaṭan pṛthivīṁ kṛtsnāṁ deśo deśe narādhipaḥ ||
Um die Sünde des Brahmanenmordes zu tilgen, befragte der König viele Brahmanen. Er wanderte über die ganze Erde, zog von Land zu Land und suchte nach dem rechten Mittel der Sühne—und zeigte damit, dass selbst ein Herrscher sich dem Dharma und dem Rat der Gelehrten beugen muss, wenn ihn schweres Unrecht belastet.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grave wrongdoing demands humility and active seeking of dharmic remedy: even a king must consult the learned and pursue proper prāyaścitta (expiation) rather than relying on power or denial.
Bhīṣma describes a king burdened by brahmahatyā who travels across the world, questioning many Brahmins in different regions to learn how the sin may be removed.