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 dijo: «Si ladrones u otros hombres malvados, buscando refugio, acuden al sacerdote de tu linaje y declaran: “¡Oh brahmán, no volveremos a cometer tal pecado!”, entonces deben ser puestos en libertad. Ésta es la instrucción de Brahmā. Sin embargo, aun un brāhmana renunciante—con la cabeza rapada, portando el báculo y vistiendo piel de ciervo—si obra mal, es digno de recibir castigo».
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.