Shloka 15

मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः

Determination of the Means to Liberation

Devanagari script

तदा विसर्गमर्हा: स्युरितीदं धातृशासनम्‌ | बिभ्रद्‌ दण्डाजिन मुण्डो ब्राह्मणो5हति शासनम्‌,यदि शरण चाहनेवाले डाकू या दुष्ट पुरुष पुरोहितकी शरणमें चले जायँँ और यह प्रतिज्ञा करें कि 'ब्रह्मम! अब हम फिर ऐसा पाप नहीं करेंगे" तो उन्हें छोड़ देना चाहिये। यह ब्रह्माजीका उपदेश है। सिर मुड़ाकर दण्ड और मृगचर्म धारण करनेवाला संन्यासी ब्राह्मण भी यदि पाप करे तो दण्ड पानेका अधिकारी है

Transliteration

tadā visargam arhāḥ syur itīdaṃ dhātṛśāsanam | bibhrad daṇḍājina-muṇḍo brāhmaṇo 'pi hi śāsanam ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അവരെ വിട്ടയക്കണം—ഇത് സ്രഷ്ടാവിന്റെ കല്പന. മുണ്ഡിതശിരസ്സോടെ ദണ്ഡവും മൃഗചർമ്മവും ധരിച്ച ബ്രാഹ്മണ സന്ന്യാസിയും കുറ്റം ചെയ്താൽ, നിയമശാസനപ്രകാരം അവനും ശിക്ഷാർഹനാണ്.

Word by Word

तदाthen

विसर्गम्release, letting go (pardon)

अर्हाःdeserving, worthy

स्युःshould be

इतिthus

इदम्this

धातृ-शासनम्the ordinance of the Creator (Brahmā)

बिभ्रत्bearing, carrying

दण्ड-अजिनम्a staff and a deerskin

मुण्डःshaven-headed

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

अर्हतिdeserves, is fit for

शासनम्punishment, chastisement

Speaker

इुमत्सेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhātṛ (Brahmā)

Brāhmaṇa (ascetic/renunciant)

Daṇḍa (ascetic staff)

Ajina (deerskin)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Mercy may be shown by releasing those who seek refuge with sincere resolve to abandon wrongdoing, as taught by the Creator; however, outward religious status or ascetic dress does not grant immunity—wrongdoing remains punishable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Umatsena states a dharma-rule: certain offenders can be spared when they come under protection and vow reform, but he immediately adds a balancing principle—an ascetic Brahmin, despite renunciant marks (staff, deerskin, shaven head), is still liable to discipline if he commits sin.