Shloka 14
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
यदा पुरोहित वा ते पर्येयु: शरणैषिण: । करिष्याम: पुनर्ब्रह्ममू न पापमिति वादिन:
yadā purohitaṃ vā te paryeyuḥ śaraṇaiṣiṇaḥ | kariṣyāmaḥ punar brahman na pāpam iti vādinaḥ ||
Dyumatsena sprach: „Wenn Räuber oder andere Übeltäter, die Zuflucht suchen, zu eurem Familienpriester kommen und erklären: ‚O Brahmane, wir werden eine solche Sünde nicht wieder begehen‘, dann sollen sie freigelassen werden. Dies ist die Weisung Brahmās. Doch selbst ein entsagender Brāhmaṇa—kahlgeschoren, den Stab tragend und in Hirschfell gekleidet—ist, wenn er Unrecht tut, der Strafe würdig.“
इुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Refuge may be granted even to wrongdoers if they sincerely renounce future sin; however, social or religious status (even that of an ascetic brāhmaṇa) does not exempt one from punishment when one commits wrongdoing—dharma requires both compassion and accountability.
Dyumatsena lays down a rule of conduct: when criminals approach the priest seeking protection and promise reform, they should be spared, citing Brahmā’s injunction; at the same time he clarifies that an ascetic who violates dharma remains punishable, emphasizing impartial justice.