Shloka 10
Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो युद्धे मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया,जो पुरुष ब्राह्मणके लिये युद्धमें प्राण दे देता है, वह भी ब्रह्महत्यासे छूट जाता है। ब्रह्महत्यारा होनेपर भी जो सुपात्र ब्राह्मणोंको एक लाख गौओंका दान करता है, वह सम्पूर्ण पापोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है
brāhmaṇārthe hato yuddhe mucyate brahmahatyayā | yo puruṣo brāhmaṇārthe yuddhe prāṇān parityajati so 'pi brahmahatyāyāḥ pramucyate | brahmahatyāparo 'pi yaḥ supātrebhyo brāhmaṇebhyaḥ lakṣaṃ gāṃ dānaṃ dadāti sa sarvapāpebhyaḥ pramucyate |
Vyāsa declara que incluso la grave mancha de matar a un brāhmaṇa puede ser levantada: el hombre que cae en batalla por causa de un Brāhmaṇa—o que entrega su vida en la guerra para proteger a un Brāhmaṇa—queda libre del pecado de brahmahatyā. Asimismo, aun quien esté manchado por brahmahatyā, si dona cien mil vacas a brāhmaṇas dignos, se dice que queda liberado de todos los pecados.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that even the gravest sin (brahmahatyā) is not presented as irrevocable: it can be expiated through extraordinary dharmic acts—self-sacrifice in war undertaken for the protection of a Brāhmaṇa, and massive, properly directed charity (donating a hundred thousand cows to worthy Brāhmaṇas).
In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states rules of expiation and merit. He cites two powerful means of purification—dying in battle for a Brāhmaṇa’s sake and giving an immense cow-donation to qualified Brāhmaṇas—framing them as ways to be freed from brahmahatyā and other sins.