ब्रह्महा च सुरापी च स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः
A slayer of a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, or one who violates the teacher's bed—
पन्तिभेदीवृथापाकी नित्यं ब्रह्मणदूषकः
One who breaks ranks, one who cooks for no purpose, and one who always reviles Brahmins—
एश्चान्नास्तीति यो ब्रुयात्तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातिनम्
And whoever says, 'There is no food,' they declare him a slayer of Brahman.
समायात्यन्तरायत्वं तमाहुर्ब्रह्मधातिनम्
He who causes obstruction is called a destroyer of Brahman.
असत्यनिरतश्वचैव ब्रह्महा परिकीर्तितः
One who is always devoted to falsehood is also called a Brahmin-slayer.
अन्योद्वेगरतश्चैव अन्येषां दोषसूवकः
One who delights in disturbing others and in pointing out the faults of others.
नित्यं प्रतिग्रहरतस्तथा प्राणिवधे रतः
One who is always eager to accept gifts and intent on killing living beings.
ब्रह्महत्या समं पापमेव बहुविधं नृप
O king, all these various sins are equal to the slaying of a Brahmin.
गणान्नभोजनं चैव गणिकानां निषेवणम्
Eating food from guilds and associating with courtesans.
उपासमापरित्यागो देवलानां च भोजनम्
Abandoning the company of spiritual guides and partaking of food meant for deities.
यः शूद्रेण समाहतो भोजनं कुरुते द्विजः
A twice-born who, after being struck by a Shudra, eats food.
यः शूद्रेणाभ्यनुज्ञातः प्रेष्यकर्म करिति च
One who, having been permitted by a Shudra, performs the work of a servant.
एवं बहुविधं पापं सुरापानसमं स्मृतम्
Such various kinds of sin are considered equal to drinking liquor.
कन्दमूलफलानां च कस्तूरी पटवाससाम्
As for roots, tubers, fruits, musk, and cloth made of bark—
ताम्रायस्त्रपुकांस्यानामाज्यस्य मधुनस्तथा
Copper, tin, bell-metal, clarified butter, and honey—
क्रमुकस्यापिहरणमम्भसां चन्दनस्य च
Taking betel, water, or sandalwood unlawfully—
पितृयज्ञपरित्यागो धर्मकार्यविलोपनम्
Neglecting ancestral rites and obstructing acts of righteousness—
भक्ष्याणां चापहरणं धान्यानां हरणं तथा
Stealing edible items and likewise taking away grain—
भागीनीगमनं चैव पुत्रस्त्रीगमनं तथा
Having intercourse with a sister, and likewise with a son's wife—
हीनजात्याभिगमनं मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम्
Intercourse with a woman of lower caste, and associating with the wife of a drunkard—
भ्रातृस्त्रीगमनं चैव वयस्यस्त्रीनिषेवणम्
Having intercourse with a brother's wife, and with a friend's wife—
अकाले कर्मकरणं पुत्रीगमन मेव च
Performing acts at improper times, and intercourse with one's own daughter—
इत्येवमादयो राजन्महापातकसंज्ञिताः
These, O King, are known as major sins.
यथाकथञ्चित्पापानामेतेषां परमर्षिभिः
Some of these sins, in whatever manner, have been described by the great sages.
प्रायश्चित्तविहीनानि पापानि शृणु भूपते
Hear, O King, of those sins for which there is no prescribed atonement.
ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां कथञ्चिन्निष्कृतिर्भवेत्
For sins such as killing a Brahmin, expiation is possible in some way.
विश्वस्तघातिनं चैव कृतन्घानां नरेश्वर
And one who betrays trust, as well as those who commit murder, O king,
शूद्रान्नपुष्टदेहानां वेदनिन्दारतात्मनाम्
And those whose bodies are sustained by food from Śūdras, who are devoted to reviling the Vedas,
सत्कथानिन्दकानाञ्च नेहामुत्रचनिष्कृतिः
And those who speak ill of sacred narratives—there is no expiation for them, here or hereafter.
नतस्यनिष्कृतिर्दृष्टाप्रायश्चितशतैरपि
For them, no atonement is seen, even through hundreds of acts of penance.