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 dit : «Si des brigands ou d’autres hommes pervers, en quête d’asile, viennent auprès du prêtre de votre lignée et déclarent : “Ô brahmane, nous ne commettrons plus un tel péché”, alors il faut les relâcher. Telle est l’instruction de Brahmā. Pourtant, même un brāhmane renonçant—la tête rasée, portant le bâton et vêtu d’une peau de daim—s’il commet une faute, mérite encore la punition.»
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.