Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 21
ब्रह्मस्वहरण-निषेधः — Prohibition of Appropriating Brahmin Property
Brahmasva
Devanagari script
स्वाध्यायैस्तु महत्पापं हरन्ति गृहमेधिन:
Transliteration
svādhyāyais tu mahat pāpaṁ haranti gṛhamedhinaḥ
Translation
居家之人（家住者），以自修诵习（svādhyāya）——虔诚自学并诵读圣典——能除去乃至大罪。此言昭示：有纪律的学习与每日经教之行，并非仅是智识之业，而是德行的净化；即在寻常家居生活中亦可成就。
Word by Word
स्वाध्यायैःby (means of) self-study/recitation of sacred texts
स्वाध्यायैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वाध्याय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पापम्sin/evil
पापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हरन्तिthey remove/take away
हरन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootहृ
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
गृहमेधिनःhouseholders
गृहमेधिनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगृहमेधिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
चाण्डाल उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Regular svādhyāya—disciplined study and recitation of sacred teachings—has purificatory power; even a householder engaged in worldly responsibilities can remove grave moral taint through sustained scriptural practice.
A speaker identified as a Caṇḍāla states a dharma-principle: householders are not excluded from spiritual purification; through svādhyāya they can eradicate great sin, emphasizing practice over social status.