Shloka 78
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
एवमेतत् समुद्दिष्टं प्रायश्षित्तं सनातनम् । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषण यदज्ञानेन सम्भवेत्,इस प्रकार यह सनातन प्रायश्रित्त सबके लिये बताया गया है। ब्राह्मणके लिये इसका विशेषरूपसे विधान है। अनजानमें जो पाप बन जाय, उसीके लिये प्रायश्चित्त है
evam etat samuddiṣṭaṃ prāyaścittaṃ sanātanam | brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa yad ajñānena sambhavet ||
毗湿摩说道：“如此，这一古老的赎罪法已被宣说。它尤为着重地为婆罗门而设，因为赎罪所针对的，是因无知而可能生起的罪过——无心之失，而非蓄意之恶。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prāyaścitta (atonement) is primarily intended for faults committed in ignorance or without deliberate intent; Bhīṣma emphasizes that such remedial discipline is an ancient dharmic provision, with special applicability and strictness for brāhmaṇas.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by summarizing the established doctrine of expiation, clarifying its scope—especially regarding unintended transgressions—and noting its particular prescription for brāhmaṇas.