Shloka 29
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
दीक्षितस्य कदर्यस्य क्रतुविक्रयिकस्य च । तक्ष्णश्चर्मावकर्तश्व पुंश्चल्या रजकस्य च
dīkṣitasya kadaryasya kratuvikrayikasya ca | takṣṇaś carmāvakartaś ca puṃścalyā rajakasya ca
व्यास ने कहा—“दीक्षा लेकर भी कंजूस रहनेवाला, यज्ञकर्म को लाभ के लिए बेचनेवाला, बढ़ई, चर्मकार (चमड़ा काटने-गाँठनेवाला), व्यभिचारिणी स्त्री और धोबी—इन सबके प्रसंग को भी (यहाँ) समझो।”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that moral evaluation in dharma-discourse considers both inner disposition and means of livelihood: mere ritual consecration (dīkṣā) does not sanctify a person if accompanied by miserliness or mercenary exploitation of sacred rites, and certain occupations/behaviors are cited as ethically or socially problematic within the text’s normative framework.
Vyāsa is listing categories of people—defined by flawed character, questionable religious commerce, or stigmatized occupations/sexual conduct—as part of a broader Shānti Parva discussion that classifies conduct and its consequences, setting up guidance on what is blameworthy or leads to adverse results.