Shloka 166

ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property

Brahmasva

Devanagari script

अभिमानेन भूतानामिमां गतिमुपागतम्‌ | आप मेरे इस पापी कुत्तेको देखिये

Transliteration

abhimānena bhūtānām imāṁ gatim upāgatam | paśyata me imaṁ pāpīṁ śvānam, kāntihīnaṁ śvetam durbalaṁ ca | eṣa pūrvaṁ manuṣya āsīt | sarvabhūteṣu abhimānaṁ kṛtvā asyāṁ durgatau prāptaḥ ||

Translation

ଚାଣ୍ଡାଳ କହିଲା—“ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଅଭିମାନ ରଖିଥିବାରୁ ସେ ଏହି ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିଛି। ମୋର ଏହି ପାପୀ କୁକୁରଟିକୁ ଦେଖ—ଏହା କାନ୍ତିହୀନ, ଫିକା ଓ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି। ଏହା ପୂର୍ବେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଥିଲା; କିନ୍ତୁ ସର୍ବ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଅଭିମାନ ରଖିବାରୁ ଏହି ଦୁର୍ଗତି ପାଇଛି।”

Word by Word

• अभिमानेन: by pride/through arrogance
• अभिमानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमान
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• भूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गतिम्: state/condition; course; destiny
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उपागतम्: having reached/attained (gone to)
• उपागतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

चाण्डाल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• चाण्डाल (Caṇḍāla)
• कुत्ता/श्वान (dog)
• मनुष्य (human being)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Arrogance toward other beings is ethically corrosive and karmically dangerous; pride (abhimāna) leads to degradation, while humility and regard for all creatures support dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Caṇḍāla points out a weak, pale dog and explains that it was formerly a human who, due to pride toward all beings, has fallen into a miserable condition—serving as a moral example within the discourse.