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Shloka 6

Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation

यज्ञश्नेत्‌ प्रतिरुद्ध: स्यादंशेनैकेन यज्वनः । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण धार्मिके सति राजनि,यदि धर्मात्मा राजाके रहते हुए किसी यज्ञकर्ताका, विशेषतः ब्राह्मणका यज्ञ धनके बिना अधूरा रह जाय--उसके एक अंशकी पूर्ति शेष रह जाय तो राजाको चाहिये कि उसके राज्यमें जो बहुत पशुओं तथा वैभवसे सम्पन्न वैश्य हो, यदि वह यज्ञ तथा सोमयागसे रहित हो तो उसके कुटुम्बसे उस धनको यज्ञके लिये ले ले

yajñaśnet pratiruddhaḥ syād aṁśenaikena yajvanaḥ | brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa dhārmike sati rājani ||

Wika ni Bhishma: Kung sa ilalim ng isang matuwid na hari ay maantala ang isang yajña at may isang bahagi ng handog na maiwang hindi natatapos—lalo na kung ito’y para sa isang Brahmana—dapat tiyakin ng hari na ito’y ganap na maisakatuparan. Sa kanyang kaharian, kung may isang Vaiśya na sagana sa mga baka at kayamanan ngunit walang gawi sa pag-aalay (kabilang ang Soma-yajña), maaaring kumuha ang hari mula sa sambahayang iyon ng kinakailangang yaman upang matapos ang yajña, upang ang banal na gawain ay hindi maiwang bitin.

यज्ञश्नेत्from the eater/partaker of the sacrifice (i.e., the sacrificer)
यज्ञश्नेत्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootयज्ञश्नि (यज्ञ + श्नि)
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
प्रतिरुद्धःobstructed, hindered
प्रतिरुद्धः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतिरुद्ध (प्रति-√रुध्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्यात्would be / should be
स्यात्:
TypeVerb
Root√अस्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अंशेनby a part; partially
अंशेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअंश
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
एकेनby one (single)
एकेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
यज्वनःof the sacrificer
यज्वनः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootयज्वन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
ब्राह्मणस्यof a Brahmin
ब्राह्मणस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
विशेषेणespecially; in particular
विशेषेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविशेष
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
धार्मिकेin/when (the king is) righteous
धार्मिके:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootधार्मिक
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
सतिbeing; existing (locative absolute)
सति:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसत् (√अस्)
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
राजनिin/when the king (is present)
राजनि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
R
rājā (the king)
B
brāhmaṇa
V
vaiśya
Y
yajña
S
somayāga
P
paśu (cattle)
D
dhana (wealth)

Educational Q&A

A righteous king must prevent sacred duties from failing due to lack of resources—especially a Brāhmaṇa’s sacrifice. If necessary, he may requisition wealth from a prosperous but non-sacrificing Vaiśya household to complete the yajña, framing royal exaction as a dharmic duty aimed at sustaining public religious order.

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma in the Śānti Parva, he describes a case where a sacrificer’s ritual is stalled with a remaining portion incomplete. He advises the king to intervene and secure funds—potentially by taking from a wealthy Vaiśya family lacking sacrificial observance—so the rite can be finished.