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Shloka 3

ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property

Brahmasva

राजन्य उवाच वृद्धरूपोडसि चाण्डाल बालवच्च विचेष्टसे । श्वखराणां रज:सेवी कस्मादुद्धिजसे गवाम्‌

rājanya uvāca | vṛddharūpo 'si caṇḍāla bālavac ca viceṣṭase | śvakhārāṇāṃ rajaḥ-sevī kasmād uddvijase gavām ||

क्षत्रिय म्हणाला— चांडाळा! तू वृद्ध असूनही बालकासारखी चेष्टा करतोस. कुत्रे-गाढवांच्या धुळीत वावरणारा असूनही गायींच्या धुळीने तू इतका का व्याकुळ होतोस?

राजन्यःthe kshatriya (royal man)
राजन्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
वृद्धरूपःhaving an old appearance
वृद्धरूपः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृद्धरूप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
असिyou are
असि:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
चाण्डालO outcaste (Chandala)
चाण्डाल:
TypeNoun
Rootचाण्डाल
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
बालवत्like a child
बालवत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootबालवत्
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विचेष्टसेyou behave / you act
विचेष्टसे:
TypeVerb
Rootचेष्ट्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Atmanepada
श्वखराणाम्of dogs and donkeys
श्वखराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootश्वखर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
रजःसेवीone who consumes/serves dust
रजःसेवी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरजःसेविन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कस्मात्why? / from what reason?
कस्मात्:
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular
उद्विजसेyou are disturbed / you shrink away
उद्विजसे:
TypeVerb
Rootउद्विज्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Atmanepada
गवाम्of cows
गवाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootगो
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural

राजन्य उवाच

R
rājanya (a Kshatriya speaker)
C
caṇḍāla
C
cows (gāvaḥ)
D
dogs (śva)
D
donkeys (khara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how social prejudice and notions of purity/pollution can be weaponized through speech. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether one’s agitation is grounded in genuine dharma or in status-based contempt and hypocrisy.

A Kshatriya addresses a Caṇḍāla with scorn, pointing out that although the man appears old he behaves childishly, and mocking him for being disturbed by cow-dust despite being accustomed to the dust associated with dogs and donkeys.