Shloka 26
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
राजन्य उवाच चाण्डाल प्रतिजानीहि येन मोक्षमवाप्स्ययसि । ब्राह्मणार्थे त्यजन् प्राणान् गतिमिष्टामवाप्स्यसि
rājanya uvāca—cāṇḍāla pratijānīhi yena mokṣam avāpsyasi | brāhmaṇārthe tyajan prāṇān gatim iṣṭām avāpsyasi ||
क्षत्रिय ने कहा—“हे चाण्डाल! उस व्रत को स्वीकार कर, जिससे तुझे मोक्ष प्राप्त हो। यदि तू ब्राह्मण के हित के लिए अपने प्राण त्याग दे, तो तुझे अभीष्ट परम गति मिलेगी।”
राजन्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames liberation and an auspicious post-death destiny as attainable through a vow of self-sacrifice undertaken for the protection or cause of a Brāhmaṇa, presenting self-giving in service of dharma as spiritually transformative.
A Kṣatriya addresses a Cāṇḍāla and urges him to undertake a specific vow: to give up his life, if necessary, for a Brāhmaṇa’s sake; the speaker assures that such an act will lead to mokṣa and a desired higher state.