Shloka 44
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय रणे चाभिमुखो हत: । त्रेताग्निमन्त्रपूतात्मा समाविश्य द्विजो भवेत्,वह धर्ममें स्थित हो त्रिविध अग्नियोंकी मन्त्रपूर्वक परिचरयसि पवित्रचित्त हो यदि गौओं तथा ब्राह्मणोंके हितके लिये समरमें शत्रुका सामना करते हुए मारा जाय तो दूसरे जन्ममें ब्राह्मण होता है
gobrāhmaṇahitārthāya raṇe cābhimukho hataḥ | tretāgnimantrapūtātmā samāviśya dvijo bhavet ||
If a man, with a mind purified by the mantra-guided tending of the three sacred fires, is slain in battle while facing the enemy for the welfare of cows and Brahmins, then, entering into that merit, he is born again as a twice-born (a Brahmin).
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous intent (protecting cows and Brahmins) combined with ritual purity and courageous, non-retreating conduct in battle is presented as highly meritorious, yielding an exalted rebirth—here stated as birth as a Brahmin.
Maheśvara states a dharma-fruit (phala) teaching: a person devoted to the Vedic three-fire discipline who dies while directly confronting the enemy for the community’s sacred welfare attains a superior next birth.