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Shloka 3

ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property

Brahmasva

राजन्य उवाच वृद्धरूपोडसि चाण्डाल बालवच्च विचेष्टसे । श्वखराणां रज:सेवी कस्मादुद्धिजसे गवाम्‌

rājanya uvāca | vṛddharūpo 'si caṇḍāla bālavac ca viceṣṭase | śvakhārāṇāṃ rajaḥ-sevī kasmād uddvijase gavām ||

کھشتری نے کہا— اے چنڈال! تو بوڑھا ہو کر بھی بچے کی طرح حرکتیں کرتا ہے۔ کتے اور گدھے کی گرد کا عادی ہو کر بھی گایوں کی گرد سے تو اتنا کیوں گھبرا جاتا ہے؟

राजन्यःthe kshatriya (royal man)
राजन्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
वृद्धरूपःhaving an old appearance
वृद्धरूपः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृद्धरूप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
असिyou are
असि:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
चाण्डालO outcaste (Chandala)
चाण्डाल:
TypeNoun
Rootचाण्डाल
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
बालवत्like a child
बालवत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootबालवत्
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विचेष्टसेyou behave / you act
विचेष्टसे:
TypeVerb
Rootचेष्ट्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Atmanepada
श्वखराणाम्of dogs and donkeys
श्वखराणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootश्वखर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
रजःसेवीone who consumes/serves dust
रजःसेवी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरजःसेविन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कस्मात्why? / from what reason?
कस्मात्:
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular
उद्विजसेyou are disturbed / you shrink away
उद्विजसे:
TypeVerb
Rootउद्विज्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Atmanepada
गवाम्of cows
गवाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootगो
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural

राजन्य उवाच

R
rājanya (a Kshatriya speaker)
C
caṇḍāla
C
cows (gāvaḥ)
D
dogs (śva)
D
donkeys (khara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how social prejudice and notions of purity/pollution can be weaponized through speech. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether one’s agitation is grounded in genuine dharma or in status-based contempt and hypocrisy.

A Kshatriya addresses a Caṇḍāla with scorn, pointing out that although the man appears old he behaves childishly, and mocking him for being disturbed by cow-dust despite being accustomed to the dust associated with dogs and donkeys.