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 berkata: “Bila para perampok atau orang jahat lainnya, mencari perlindungan, datang kepada purohita keluargamu dan berseru, ‘Wahai Brahmana, kami takkan mengulangi dosa ini lagi,’ maka mereka patut dilepaskan. Inilah titah Brahmā. Namun bahkan seorang brāhmaṇa pertapa—berkepala gundul, memanggul tongkat dan mengenakan kulit rusa—bila berbuat salah, tetap layak menerima hukuman.”
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.