Shloka 10
Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो युद्धे मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
brāhmaṇārthe hato yuddhe mucyate brahmahatyayā | yo puruṣo brāhmaṇārthe yuddhe prāṇān parityajati so 'pi brahmahatyāyāḥ pramucyate | brahmahatyāparo 'pi yaḥ supātrebhyo brāhmaṇebhyaḥ lakṣaṃ gāṃ dānaṃ dadāti sa sarvapāpebhyaḥ pramucyate |
毗耶娑宣示：即便杀害婆罗门这等沉重污秽亦可解除——若有人为婆罗门之故战死沙场，或在战争中舍命以护婆罗门，便得脱离“梵杀罪”(brahmahatyā)。同样，即使身染梵杀之垢，若将十万头牛布施于具德堪受的婆罗门，亦被说为解脱诸罪。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that even the gravest sin (brahmahatyā) is not presented as irrevocable: it can be expiated through extraordinary dharmic acts—self-sacrifice in war undertaken for the protection of a Brāhmaṇa, and massive, properly directed charity (donating a hundred thousand cows to worthy Brāhmaṇas).
In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states rules of expiation and merit. He cites two powerful means of purification—dying in battle for a Brāhmaṇa’s sake and giving an immense cow-donation to qualified Brāhmaṇas—framing them as ways to be freed from brahmahatyā and other sins.