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 ||
Sinabi ni Dyumatsena: “Kung ang mga magnanakaw o iba pang masasamang tao, na naghahanap ng kanlungan, ay lumapit sa pari ng inyong angkan at magsabi, ‘O Brahman, hindi na namin uulitin ang gayong kasalanan,’ nararapat silang palayain. Ito ang tagubilin ni Brahmā. Ngunit kahit ang isang brāhmaṇa na nagtalikod sa daigdig—kalbo, may hawak na tungkod at nakasuot ng balat ng usa—kapag gumawa ng kasamaan, karapat-dapat pa ring parusahan.”
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.