Shloka 5
Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
जपन् वान्यतमं वेदं योजनानां शतं व्रजेत् । सर्वस्वं वा वेदविदे ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत्
vyāsa uvāca | japan vānyatamaṃ vedaṃ yojanānāṃ śataṃ vrajet | sarvasvaṃ vā vedavide brāhmaṇāyopapādayet | athavā prāyaścittaṃ … |
Vyāsa sprach: „Man kann eine strenge Sühne auf sich nehmen — indem man unablässig irgendeinen Veda rezitiert, während man hundert Yojanas zurücklegt, oder eine solche Reise wiederholt; oder indem man sein gesamtes Vermögen einem Brāhmaṇa übergibt, der den Veda wahrhaft kennt. Durch solche schweren Bußwerke und durch großzügige Wiedergutmachung gegenüber den Gelehrten wird ein Mann, der Kühe und Brāhmaṇas geschützt hat, vom Vergehen der brahmahatyā (der Tötung eines Brāhmaṇa) befreit.“
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grave wrongdoing is addressed through rigorous self-discipline (japa and arduous travel) and through restorative generosity to genuine Vedic learning; the verse frames expiation as both inner austerity and outward restitution, especially in relation to safeguarding cows and Brahmins.
Vyāsa is describing recognized forms of prāyaścitta: reciting a Veda while undertaking long journeys and/or giving one’s wealth to a Veda-knowing Brahmin, presented as means by which a protector of cows and Brahmins can be freed from the taint of brahmahatyā.