Shloka 14
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
यदा पुरोहित वा ते पर्येयु: शरणैषिण: । करिष्याम: पुनर्ब्रह्ममू न पापमिति वादिन:
yadā purohitaṃ vā te paryeyuḥ śaraṇaiṣiṇaḥ | kariṣyāmaḥ punar brahman na pāpam iti vādinaḥ ||
Dyumatsena disse: “Se ladrões ou outros homens perversos, buscando refúgio, vierem ao sacerdote de tua linhagem e declararem: ‘Ó brâmane, não tornaremos a cometer tal pecado’, então devem ser soltos. Esta é a instrução de Brahmā. Contudo, até mesmo um brâmane renunciante—de cabeça raspada, portando o bastão e vestindo pele de cervo—se praticar o mal, é digno de receber punição.”
इुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Refuge may be granted even to wrongdoers if they sincerely renounce future sin; however, social or religious status (even that of an ascetic brāhmaṇa) does not exempt one from punishment when one commits wrongdoing—dharma requires both compassion and accountability.
Dyumatsena lays down a rule of conduct: when criminals approach the priest seeking protection and promise reform, they should be spared, citing Brahmā’s injunction; at the same time he clarifies that an ascetic who violates dharma remains punishable, emphasizing impartial justice.