Shloka 28
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्त: स तदा तेन ब्रह्मास्वार्थ परंतप । हुत्वा रणमुखे प्राणान् गतिमिष्टामवाप ह
bhīṣma uvāca | ity uktaḥ sa tadā tena brahmārtha-parantapa | hutvā raṇamukhe prāṇān gatim iṣṭām avāpa ha ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô Parantapa, lorsque le kṣatriya eut parlé ainsi, ce Cāṇḍāla—désireux de préserver les biens du brāhmane—offrit sa vie à l’entrée même du combat et atteignit ainsi l’état désiré.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the moral quality of an act in war depends on intention and dharmic purpose: giving one’s life to protect another’s rightful property—especially a Brahmin’s entrusted wealth—is portrayed as a meritorious sacrifice leading to an auspicious destiny (iṣṭā gati).
After being addressed by a Kshatriya, a Chandala resolves to protect the Brahmin’s wealth; he enters the battle-front and sacrifices his life there, and Bhishma reports that he attains the desired posthumous state.