Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
इसलिये कभी किंचिन्मात्र भी ब्राह्मणके धनका अपहरण न करे। ब्राह्मणके धूल- धूसरित दुग्धरूप धनको खाकर मेरी जो दशा हुई है, उसे आप प्रत्यक्ष देख लें
tasmāt kadācit kiñcinmātram api brāhmaṇasya dhanasya apaharaṇaṃ na kuryāt | brāhmaṇasya dhūli-dhūsarita-dugdharūpaṃ dhanaṃ bhakṣayitvā mama yā daśā jātā, tāṃ bhavān pratyakṣaṃ paśyatu |
ଏହିହେତୁ କେବେ ବି ଅତି ସାନ ମାତ୍ରାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ଧନ ଅପହରଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ। ଧୂଳିରେ ଧୂସରିତ, ଦୁଧ ସଦୃଶ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଉଥିବା ସେହି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଧନ ଭୋଗ କରି ମୋର ଯେ ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶା ହୋଇଛି, ତାହାକୁ ତୁମେ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ଦେଖ।
चाण्डाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Never appropriate a Brahmin’s property—not even a small amount—because such an act is presented as gravely sinful and leads to visible suffering and downfall for the wrongdoer.
A Caṇḍāla speaks as a cautionary example, pointing to his own ruined condition as the consequence of consuming/appropriating a Brahmin’s wealth, urging the listener to learn directly from what is seen.