Shloka 3
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
राजन्य उवाच वृद्धरूपोडसि चाण्डाल बालवच्च विचेष्टसे । श्वखराणां रज:सेवी कस्मादुद्धिजसे गवाम्
rājanya uvāca | vṛddharūpo 'si caṇḍāla bālavac ca viceṣṭase | śvakhārāṇāṃ rajaḥ-sevī kasmād uddvijase gavām ||
Le kṣatriya dit : «Ô Caṇḍāla, bien que tu aies l’apparence d’un vieillard, tu te conduis comme un enfant. Toi qui es accoutumé à la poussière des chiens et des ânes, pourquoi es-tu si troublé par la poussière soulevée par ces vaches ?»
राजन्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social prejudice and notions of purity/pollution can be weaponized through speech. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether one’s agitation is grounded in genuine dharma or in status-based contempt and hypocrisy.
A Kshatriya addresses a Caṇḍāla with scorn, pointing out that although the man appears old he behaves childishly, and mocking him for being disturbed by cow-dust despite being accustomed to the dust associated with dogs and donkeys.