मंत्रव्रतविहीनश्च वेदविद्यागुणैरपि। यज्ञदानादिभिर्मुक्तो ब्राह्मणश्चाधमाधमः
One who lacks mantras and vows, even if endowed with Vedic knowledge and virtues, and freed by sacrifices and gifts, is still the lowest of Brahmins.
यज्ञार्थका देवलका नाक्षत्रा ग्रामयाजकाः। परदाररता नित्यं पंचैते ब्राह्मणाधमाः
Those who perform sacrifices for material gain, for gods, for stars, for villages, and those always attached to others’ wives—these five are the lowest of Brahmins.
मंत्रसंस्कारहीनाश्च शुचिसंयमवर्जिताः। मोघाशिनो दुरात्मानो ब्राह्मणाश्चाधमाधमाः
Brahmins who lack the sanctification of mantras, who are devoid of purity and self-restraint, who eat in vain, who are wicked in nature—these are the lowest of the low.
अपि स्तेयरता मूढाः सर्वधर्मविवर्जिताः। उन्मार्गगामिनो नित्यं ब्राह्मणाश्चाधमाधमाः
Indeed, those brahmins who are foolish, intent on theft, devoid of all righteousness, and always following a wrong path, are the lowest of the low.
श्राद्धादिकर्मरहिता गुरुसेवाविवर्जिताः। अमंत्रा भिन्नमर्यादा एते सर्वाधमाधमाः
Those who neglect rites such as śrāddha, who do not serve their teacher, who are without mantras and who transgress boundaries—these are considered the lowest of all.
असंभाष्या इमे दुष्टास्सर्वे निरयगामिनः। अमेध्यास्ते दुराचारा अपूज्याश्च समंततः
These wicked ones are not to be spoken with; all of them are bound for hell. They are impure, of bad conduct, and unworthy of worship everywhere.
खड्गोपजीविकाः प्रेष्या गोवाहनरता द्विजाः। कारुवृत्युपजीवाश्च गणवार्द्धषिकाश्च ये
Twice-born who make a living by the sword, who are servants, who delight in riding cattle, who subsist by crafts, or who are members of guilds and troupes—
बालापण्याभिचाराश्च अंत्यजाश्रयमाश्रिताः। कृतघ्नाश्च गुरुघ्नाश्च एते सर्वाधमाः स्मृताः
Those who practice sorcery for the sale of children, who take shelter among outcastes, who are ungrateful or who kill their teacher—these are all regarded as the lowest.
ये चैवान्ये हताचाराः पाषंडा धर्मनिंदकाः। दूषकादेव भेदानामेते ब्रह्मद्विषो द्विजाः
And those others who are of corrupt conduct, heretics, revilers of dharma, and those who cause divisions—these twice-born are haters of Brahman.
तथापि ब्राह्मणश्चैव न हंतव्यः कदाचन। एनं हत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्महा पुरुषो भवेत्
Nevertheless, a brahmin must never be killed under any circumstances; for, O best of twice-born, killing him makes a person a slayer of Brahman.
अंत्यजातिषु म्लेच्छेषु तथा चांडालजातिषु। पतितो वान्नयोनिभ्यां न हंतव्यः कथंचन
Even among outcastes, foreigners, and those of the caṇḍāla caste, or one fallen from both parents, he must never be killed in any way.
सर्वजातिस्त्रियं गत्वा सर्वाभक्ष्यस्य भक्षणात्। द्विजत्वं न विनश्येत पुण्याद्विप्रो भवेत्पुनः
Even after going to women of all castes or eating all forbidden foods, the state of being twice-born is not lost; by merit, he becomes a brahmin again.
नारद उवाच-। ईदृशं दुष्कृतं कृत्वा पश्चात्पुण्यं समाचरेत्। कां गतिं यात्यसौ विप्रः सर्वलोकपितामह
Nārada said: After committing such evil, if he later performs virtuous acts, O ancestor of all worlds, what fate does that brahmin attain?
ब्रह्मोवाच-। कृत्वा सर्वाणि पापानि पश्चाद्यस्तु जितेंद्रियः। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः पुनर्ब्रह्मत्वमर्हति
Brahmā said: Having committed all sins, if afterwards he controls his senses, he is freed from all sins and becomes worthy of Brahmanhood again.
शृणु पुत्र कथां रम्यां विचित्रां च पुरातनीम्। कस्यचिद्ब्राह्मणस्यापि यौवनाढ्यः सुतोऽभवत्
Listen, my son, to a delightful and remarkable ancient tale: There was once a brahmin who had a son endowed with youth.
ततो यौवनसंपत्तेर्मोहाच्च पूर्वकर्मणः। चांडालीमगमत्सद्यस्तस्याः प्रियतरोऽभवत्
Then, due to the attainment of youth, delusion, and previous karma, he immediately went to a caṇḍālī woman and became dearer to her.
तस्यामुत्पादितास्तेन पुत्रा दुहितरस्तथा। स्वकुटुंबं परित्यज्य गृहे तस्याश्चिरं स्थितः
He fathered sons and daughters by her, abandoned his own family, and stayed in her house for a long time.
अन्या भक्ष्यं न चाश्नाति घृणया च सुरां त्यजेत्। तमुवाच सदा सा च भक्षयान्यतरां सुराम्
He would not eat other food, and out of disgust, he would avoid liquor; yet she always told him to eat other things and to drink liquor.
तामुवाच तदा शौचं गदितुं नार्हसि प्रिये। उत्कारो जायते तस्याः श्रवणात्सततं मम
Then he said to her, 'My dear, you should not speak of purity; whenever I hear it from her, I always feel revulsion.'
एकदा स मृगान्वेषात्श्रांतः सुप्तो गृहे दिवा। गृहीत्वा सा सुरां तस्य हसित्वा च मुखे ददौ
One day, exhausted from hunting, he slept at home during the day; she took liquor, laughed, and put it in his mouth.
ततो विप्रमुखादग्निः प्रजज्वाल समंततः। ज्वाला तु सकुटुबांतामदहच्च गृहं वसु
Then, from the front of the brahmin's house, fire blazed forth in all directions; its flames, crowned with smoke, consumed the house and its wealth.
हाहा कृत्वा समुत्थाय विललाप तदा द्विजः। विलापांते च जिज्ञासा समारब्धा च तेन हि
Crying out in distress, the brahmin arose and lamented; and when his lamentation ended, he began to inquire.
कुतश्चाग्निः समुद्भूतो गृहे दाहः कथं मम। ततः खे तमुवाचेदं तेजस्ते ब्राह्मणस्य च
"From where did this fire arise, and how did my house burn?" Then, from the sky, his own brilliance spoke to the brahmin.
कथिते तद्यथावृत्ते ब्राह्मणो विस्मयं गतः। विमृश्यार्थमुवाचेदं पुनः खेऽस्य हितं वचः
When the events were thus described, the brahmin was astonished; reflecting on the matter, he was again addressed from the sky with words for his welfare.
विप्रणष्टं सुतेजस्ते तस्माद्धर्मचरो भव। ततो मुनिवरान्गत्वा पप्रच्छात्महितं द्विजः
"Your brilliance is lost, O brahmin; therefore, practice righteousness." Then, seeking his own good, the brahmin went to the eminent sages and questioned them.
तमूचुर्मुनयः सर्वे दानधर्मं समाचर। ऋषय ऊचुः-। पूयंते सर्वपापेभ्यो ब्राह्मणानि यमैर्व्रतैः
All the sages said to him, "Practice the virtue of charity." The seers said: "Brahmins are purified from all sins by vows and disciplines."
नियमान्शास्त्रदृष्टांश्च पूतत्वार्थमुपाचर। चांद्रायणांश्च कृच्छ्रांश्च तप्तकृच्छ्रान्पुनः पुनः
"Undertake the observances prescribed in the scriptures for purification, such as the Cāndrāyaṇa and Kṛcchra penances, and the heated Kṛcchra, again and again."
प्राजापत्यांश्च दिव्यांश्च दोषशोषाय सत्वरम्। गच्छ तीर्थानि पूतानि गोविंदाराधनं कुरु
"Also perform the Prājāpatya and divine penances quickly, to destroy faults; go to the sacred places and worship Govinda."
क्षयमेष्यंति पापानि न चिरेण समंततः। पुण्यतीर्थप्रभावाच्च गोविंदस्य प्रभावतः
"Your sins will soon be destroyed in all respects, by the power of the holy places and by the power of Govinda."
क्षयमेष्यंति पापानि ब्रह्मत्वं प्राप्स्यते भवान्। शृणु तात यथावृत्तं कथयामः पुरातनम्
"Your sins will be destroyed, and you will attain brahminhood; listen, dear one, as we recount an ancient tale as it happened."