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 ||
Kesatria itu berkata: “Wahai Cāṇḍāla, akuilah dan terimalah ikrar yang dengannya engkau akan mencapai pembebasan. Jika demi seorang Brāhmaṇa engkau melepaskan nyawamu, engkau akan memperoleh keadaan mulia yang engkau dambakan.”
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.