Shloka 6
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 ||
Vyāsa sprach: Selbst durch die Gabe von Reichtum, der den Lebensunterhalt sichert, oder durch das Schenken eines vollständig ausgestatteten Hauses wird jemand, der als Beschützer von Kühen und Brāhmaṇas gehandelt hat, von der Sünde der brahma-hatyā (der Tötung eines Brāhmaṇa) befreit. Der Vers stellt den Schutz der Verwundbaren—insbesondere der Kühe und Brāhmaṇas—als entscheidende ethische Tat heraus und nennt lebensstützende, bedeutende Gaben als konkrete Wiedergutmachung, die schweres Unrecht zu reinigen vermag.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.