Shloka 7
Saṃvaraṇa’s Petition and Tapatī’s Conditioned Consent (सम्वरण-तपती संवादः)
ब्रह्मवध्या परं पापं निष्कृतिनात्र विद्यते अबुद्धिपूर्व कृत्वापि वरमात्मवधो मम,इसीमें मुझे अपना कल्याण समझना चाहिये तथा यही मुझे अच्छा लगता है। ब्रह्महत्या और आत्महत्यामें मुझे आत्महत्या ही श्रेष्ठ जान पड़ती है। ब्रह्महत्या बहुत बड़ा पाप है। इस जगत्में उससे छूटनेका कोई उपाय नहीं है। अनजानमें भी ब्रह्महत्या करनेकी अपेक्षा मेरी दृष्टिमें आत्महत्या कर लेना अच्छा है
brahmavadhyā paraṁ pāpaṁ niṣkṛtir nātra vidyate | abuddhipūrvaṁ kṛtvāpi varam ātmavadho mama ||
The Brahmin said: “The slaying of a Brahmin is the highest sin; in this world there is no expiation for it. Even if it were done without intent, I consider it better for me to take my own life. In my judgment, self-destruction is preferable to the burden of Brahmin-slaying, for Brahmin-murder is a grievous evil from which there is no release.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Brahmin-slaying (brahmahatyā) as an exceptionally grave transgression, emphasizing that even lack of intent does not remove its moral weight; it highlights a dharmic anxiety about irreversible sin and the limits of expiation.
A Brahmin speaker reflects on the ethical consequences of an act involving Brahmin-slaying and declares that, given the perceived absence of atonement, he would rather die himself than live bearing the guilt of brahmahatyā.