युधिष्ठिर उवाच इदं मे तत्त्वतो राजन् वक्तुमर्हसि भारत। अहिंसयित्वापि कथं ब्रह्महत्या विधीयते॥
Yudhishthira said O descendant of Bharata's race, you should answer this question of mine truly and in detail. What are those circumstances under which a person may become guilty of Brahmanicide without actually killing a Brahmana.
भीष्म उवाच व्यासमामन्त्र्य राजेन्द्र पुरा यत् पृष्टवानहम्। तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि तदिहैकमनाः शृणु॥
Bhishma said Formerly, O king, I had one day requested Vyasa to explain to me this very subject. I shall now describe to you what Vyasa told me on that occasion. Do you listen to it with rapt attention.
चतुर्थस्त्वं वसिष्ठस्य तत्त्वमाख्याहि मे मुने। अहिंसयित्वा केनेह ब्रह्महत्या विधीयते॥
Going to Vyasa, I addressed him saying You, O great ascetic, are the fourth in descent from Vaishishtha! Do you explain to me this. What are those circumstances under which one becomes guilty of Brahmanicide without actually killing a Brahmana?
इति पृष्टो मया राजन् पराशरशरीरजः। अब्रवीन्निपुणो धर्मे नि:संशयमनुत्तमम्॥
Thus addressed by me, the own begotten son of Parashara, o king an adept in the science of morality gave me the following answer at once excellent and fraught with certainly.
ब्राह्मणं स्वयमाहूय भिक्षार्थे कृशवृत्तिनम्। बयानास्तीति यः पश्चात्तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should know that man as guilty of Brahmanicide who having of his own accord invited a Brahmana of pious conduct to his house for giving him alms then refuses too give anything on the pretence of there being nothing in the house.
मध्यस्थस्येह विप्रस्य योऽनूचानस्य भारत। वृत्तिं हरति दुर्बुद्धिस्तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should, O Bharata, know that man as guilty of Brahmanicide who destroys the means of living of a Brahmana well-read in the Vedas, and all their branches and who is shorn of attachments to worldly creatures and goods.
गोकुलस्य तृषार्तस्य जलार्थे वसुधाधिप। उत्पादयति यो विघ्नं तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should o king, know that man to be guilty of Brahmanicide who puts impediments in the way of thirsty kine while engaged in satisfying that thirst.
यः प्रवृत्तां श्रुति सम्यक् शास्त्रं वा मुनिभिः कृतम्। दूषयत्यनभिज्ञाय तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should take that man as guilty of Brahmanicide who, without studying them, finds fault with the Shrutis that have come down: from preceptor to pupil for ages and ages together, or with those scriptures that have been composed by the Rishis.
आत्मजां रूपसम्पन्नां महतीं सदृशे वरे। न प्रयच्छति यः कन्यां तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should know that man as guilty of Brahmanicide who does not confer upon a suitable bridegroom his daughter endued with beauty and other excellent qualities.
अधर्मनिरतो मूढो मिथ्या यो वै द्विजातिषु। दद्यान्मर्मातिगं शोकं तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should know that foolish and sinful wightought to be guilty of Brahmanicide who pains the Brahmanas to the very core of their hearts.
चक्षुषा विप्रहीणस्य पंगुलस्य जडस्य वा। हरेत यो वै सर्वस्वं तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should know that man to be guilty of Brahmanicide who robs the blind, the lame, and idiots.
आश्रमे वा वने वापि ग्रामे वा यदि वा पुरे। अग्निं समुत्सृजेन्मोहात्तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should know that man to be guilty of Brahmanicide who sets fire to the hermitage of ascetics or to forests or to a village or a town.
आश्रमे वा वने वापि ग्रामे वा यदि वा पुरे। अग्निं समुत्सृजेन्मोहात्तं विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्॥
You should know that man to be guilty of Brahmanicide who sets fire to the hermitage of ascetics or to forests or to a village or a town.