Shloka 24

Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)

Devanagari script

यस्तु सर्वमिदं हन्याद्‌ ब्राह्मणं च न तत्समम्‌ | ब्रह्मवध्या महान्‌ दोष इत्याहु: परमर्षय:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | yastu sarvam idaṃ hanyād brāhmaṇaṃ ca na tat-samam | brahma-vadhyā mahān doṣa ity āhuḥ paramarṣayaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Dẫu có kẻ hủy diệt toàn cõi thế gian này, tội ấy cũng không thể sánh với tội sát hại một Bà-la-môn. Các bậc đại hiền triết tuyên rằng “brahmahatyā” (giết Bà-la-môn) là một trọng tội vô cùng nghiêm khắc.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सर्वम्: all/entire
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• हन्यात्: should kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• समम्: equal
• समम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ब्रह्मवध्या: Brahmin-slaying (brahmahatyā)
• ब्रह्मवध्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवध्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दोषः: fault/sin
• दोषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• आहुः: they say
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परमर्षयः: the supreme sages
• परमर्षयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (brāhmaṇa)
• Paramarishis (paramarṣayaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a hierarchy of moral transgressions: brahmahatyā (killing a Brahmin) is singled out by the sages as an exceptionally grave sin, not comparable even to mass destruction, because it is seen as an assault on the sanctity of spiritual knowledge and the dharmic foundations of society.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and ethical conduct. Here he cites the judgment of the highest sages to emphasize the extraordinary seriousness attributed to the killing of a Brahmin.