The Atonements for Sin

Verse 1 (12.34.1)

तपसा कर्मणा चैव प्रदानेन च भारत । पुनाति पापं पुरुषः पूतश्चेन्न प्रवर्तते ॥

tapasā karmaṇā caiva pradānena ca bhārata | punāti pāpaṃ puruṣaḥ pūtaścenna pravartate

By austerity, by deeds and by gifts, O Bharata, a man cleanses his sin, if once purified he does not return to it.

Verse 2 (12.34.2)

एककालं तु भुञ्जानश्चरन्भैक्षं स्वकर्मकृत् । कपालपाणिः खट्वाङ्गी ब्रह्मचारी सदोत्थितः ॥

ekakālaṃ tu bhuñjānaścaranbhaikṣaṃ svakarmakṛt | kapālapāṇiḥ khaṭvāṅgī brahmacārī sadotthitaḥ

Eating once a day, going about begging, doing his own work, a skull in his hand and a skull-topped staff, chaste, ever alert,

Verse 3 (12.34.3)

अनसूयुरधः शायी कर्म लोके प्रकाशयन् । पूर्णैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्षैर्ब्रह्महा विप्रमुच्यते ॥

anasūyuradhaḥ śāyī karma loke prakāśayan | pūrṇairdvādaśabhirvarṣairbrahmahā vipramucyate

free from envy, sleeping on the ground, making his deed known to the world, after a full twelve years a killer of a brahmin is freed.

Verse 4 (12.34.4)

लक्ष्यः शस्त्रभृतां वा स्याद्विदुषामिच्छयाऽऽत्मनः । प्रास्येदात्मानमग्नौ वा समिद्धे त्रिरवाक्शिराः ॥

lakṣyaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ vā syādviduṣāmicchayā''tmanaḥ | prāsyedātmānamagnau vā samiddhe triravākśirāḥ

Or he may, by his own wish and that of the learned, become the target of armed men; or he may cast himself, head downward, three times into a kindled fire.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner inside वाक्‌शिराः (त्रिरवाक्शिराः). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.36.3d*0048 (lines 01-02). The alignment found no match.

Verse 5 (12.34.5)

जपन्वाऽन्यतमं वेदं योजनानां शतं व्रजेत् । सर्वस्वं वा वेदविदे ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत् ॥

japanvā'nyatamaṃ vedaṃ yojanānāṃ śataṃ vrajet | sarvasvaṃ vā vedavide brāhmaṇāyopapādayet

Or, reciting any one Veda, he may walk a hundred yojanas; or he may give all his wealth to a brahmin learned in the Veda;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.36.3d*0048 (lines 03-04). The alignment found no match.

Verse 6 (12.34.6)

धनं वा जीवनायालं गृहं वा सपरिच्छदम् । मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्याया गोप्ता गोब्राह्मणस्य च ॥

dhanaṃ vā jīvanāyālaṃ gṛhaṃ vā saparicchadam | mucyate brahmahatyāyā goptā gobrāhmaṇasya ca

or wealth enough for a livelihood, or a house with its furnishings. The protector of cows and brahmins is also freed from the guilt of killing a brahmin.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.36.3d*0048 (lines 05-06). The alignment found no match.

Verse 7 (12.34.7)

षड्भिर्वर्षैः कृच्छ्रभोजी ब्रह्महा पूयते नरः । मासेमासे समश्नंस्तु त्रिभिर्वर्षैः प्रमुच्यते ॥

ṣaḍbhirvarṣaiḥ kṛcchrabhojī brahmahā pūyate naraḥ | māsemāse samaśnaṃstu tribhirvarṣaiḥ pramucyate

Living on austere food for six years, a killer of a brahmin is purified; eating once a month, he is freed in three years.

Note on the text: Corrected षङ्गिर्वर्षैः → षड्भिर्वर्षैः (misprint in Wikisource; misprint (ङ्ग for ड्भ); the critical edition reads ṣaḍbhir varṣaiḥ).

Verse 8 (12.34.8)

संवत्सरेण मासाशी पूयते नात्र संशयः । तथैवोपवसन्राजन्स्वल्पेनापि प्रपूयते ॥

saṃvatsareṇa māsāśī pūyate nātra saṃśayaḥ | tathaivopavasanrājansvalpenāpi prapūyate

One who eats only once a month is purified in a year, without doubt; likewise one who fasts, O king, is purified even by a short penance.

Verse 9 (12.34.9)

क्रतुना चाश्वमेधेन पूयते नात्र संशयः । ये चाप्यवभृथस्नाताः केचिदेवंविधा नराः । ते सर्वे धूतपाप्मानो भवन्तीति परा श्रुतिः ॥

kratunā cāśvamedhena pūyate nātra saṃśayaḥ | ye cāpyavabhṛthasnātāḥ kecidevaṃvidhā narāḥ | te sarve dhūtapāpmāno bhavantīti parā śrutiḥ

By the Ashvamedha sacrifice one is purified, without doubt; and any men who bathe at its closing bath and are of such a kind, all of them have their sins shaken off: so says the highest Shruti.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as the page prints it (labelled 12-34-9a, b, c). Lines 1-2 = CE 12.36.6a, 6c (ya cāsyāvabhṛthe snānti for Wikisource ये चाप्यवभृथस्नाताः); line 3 = CE 12.36.7a (te sarve pūtapāpmāno bhavantīti parā śrutiḥ). The alignment left them unmatched (they are in the unmatched list as 12.36.6-7).

Verse 10 (12.34.10)

ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो युद्धे मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया ॥

brāhmaṇārthe hato yuddhe mucyate brahmahatyayā

One who is killed in battle for the sake of a brahmin is freed from the guilt of killing a brahmin.

Note on the text: One-line verse, as the page prints it (12-34-10a only). = CE 12.36.7c (brāhmaṇārthe hato yuddhe mucyate brahmahatyayā); the alignment left it unmatched.

Verse 11 (12.34.11)

गवां शतसहस्रं तु पात्रेभ्यः प्रतिपादयेत् । ब्रह्महा विप्रमुच्येत सर्वपापेभ्य एव च ॥

gavāṃ śatasahasraṃ tu pātrebhyaḥ pratipādayet | brahmahā vipramucyeta sarvapāpebhya eva ca

If he gives a hundred thousand cows to worthy recipients, a killer of a brahmin is freed, and from all sins as well.

Verse 12 (12.34.12)

कपिलानां सहस्राणि यो दद्यात्पञ्चविंशतिम् । दोग्ध्रीणां स च पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो विप्रमुच्यते ॥

kapilānāṃ sahasrāṇi yo dadyātpañcaviṃśatim | dogdhrīṇāṃ sa ca pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyo vipramucyate

One who gives twenty-five thousand tawny milch cows is freed from all sins.

Verse 13 (12.34.13)

गोसहस्रं सवत्सानां दोग्ध्रीणां प्राणसंशये । साधुभ्यो वै दरिद्रेभ्यो दत्त्वा मुच्येत किल्विषात् ॥

gosahasraṃ savatsānāṃ dogdhrīṇāṃ prāṇasaṃśaye | sādhubhyo vai daridrebhyo dattvā mucyeta kilviṣāt

Or, when his life is at risk, by giving a thousand milch cows with their calves to good men who are poor, he is freed from sin.

Verse 14 (12.34.14)

शतं वै यस्तु काम्बोजान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति । नियतेभ्यो महीपाल स च पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥

śataṃ vai yastu kāmbojānbrāhmaṇebhyaḥ prayacchati | niyatebhyo mahīpāla sa ca pāpātpramucyate

One who gives a hundred Kamboja horses to self-restrained brahmins, O protector of the earth, is also freed from sin.

Note on the text: Corrected काम्भोजान् → काम्बोजान् (misprint in Wikisource; misprint (भ for ब); the critical edition reads kāmbojān).

Verse 15 (12.34.15)

मनोरथं तु यो दद्यादेकस्मा अपि भारत । न कीर्तयेत दत्त्वा यः स च पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥

manorathaṃ tu yo dadyādekasmā api bhārata | na kīrtayeta dattvā yaḥ sa ca pāpātpramucyate

One who grants the heart's wish of even one person, O Bharata, and does not speak of it after giving, is freed from sin.

Verse 16 (12.34.16)

सुरापानं सकृत्कृत्वा योऽग्निवर्णां सुरां पिबेत् । स पावयत्यथात्मानमिह लोके परत्र च ॥

surāpānaṃ sakṛtkṛtvā yo'gnivarṇāṃ surāṃ pibet | sa pāvayatyathātmānamiha loke paratra ca

One who, having once drunk liquor, drinks liquor the colour of fire, cleanses himself in this world and the next.

Verse 17 (12.34.17)

मरुप्रपातं प्रपतञ्ज्वलनं वा समाविशन् । महाप्रस्थानमातिष्ठन्मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ॥

maruprapātaṃ prapatañjvalanaṃ vā samāviśan | mahāprasthānamātiṣṭhanmucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

Throwing himself down from a mountain-top in a waterless land, or entering fire, or setting out on the great departure, he is freed from all sins.

Verse 18 (12.34.18)

बृहस्पतिसवेनेष्ट्वा सुरापो ब्राह्मणः पुनः । समितिं ब्राह्मणो गच्छेदिति वै ब्रह्मणः श्रुतिः ॥

bṛhaspatisaveneṣṭvā surāpo brāhmaṇaḥ punaḥ | samitiṃ brāhmaṇo gacchediti vai brahmaṇaḥ śrutiḥ

Having sacrificed with the Brihaspatisava, a brahmin who drank liquor may again go to the assembly of brahmins: so runs the Shruti of Brahma.

Verse 19 (12.34.19)

भूमिप्रदानं कुर्याद्यः सुरां पीत्वा विमत्सरः । पुनर्न च पिबेद्राजन्संस्कृतः स च शुध्यति ॥

bhūmipradānaṃ kuryādyaḥ surāṃ pītvā vimatsaraḥ | punarna ca pibedrājansaṃskṛtaḥ sa ca śudhyati

One who, having drunk liquor, free from malice gives a gift of land and does not drink again, O king, becomes purified and is cleansed.

Verse 20 (12.34.20)

गुरुतल्पी शिलां तप्तामायसीमभिसंविशेत् । अवकृत्यात्मनः शेफं प्रव्रजेदूर्ध्वदर्शनः ॥

gurutalpī śilāṃ taptāmāyasīmabhisaṃviśet | avakṛtyātmanaḥ śephaṃ pravrajedūrdhvadarśanaḥ

One who defiled his teacher's bed should lie down on a heated iron slab; or, cutting off his own organ, he should go forth gazing upward.

Verse 21 (12.34.21)

शरीरस्य विमोक्षेण मुच्यते कर्मणोऽशुभात् । कर्मभ्यो विप्रमुच्यन्ते यताः संवत्सरं स्त्रियः ॥

śarīrasya vimokṣeṇa mucyate karmaṇo'śubhāt | karmabhyo vipramucyante yatāḥ saṃvatsaraṃ striyaḥ

By the release of his body he is freed from the evil deed; and women are freed from their deeds if they restrain themselves, giving up food and pleasures, for a year.

Verse 22 (12.34.22)

महाव्रतं चरेद्यस्तु दद्यात्सर्वस्वमेव तु । गुर्वर्थे वा हतो युद्धे स मुच्येत्कर्मणोऽशुभात् ॥

mahāvrataṃ caredyastu dadyātsarvasvameva tu | gurvarthe vā hato yuddhe sa mucyetkarmaṇo'śubhāt

One who observes the great vow, or gives away all that he owns, or is killed in battle for the sake of his teacher, is freed from the evil deed.

Verse 23 (12.34.23)

अनृतेनोपवर्ती चेत्प्रतिरोद्धा गुरोस्तथा । उपाहृत्य प्रियं तस्मै तस्मात्पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥

anṛtenopavartī cetpratiroddhā gurostathā | upāhṛtya priyaṃ tasmai tasmātpāpātpramucyate

If he has dealt falsely, or obstructed his teacher, by bringing him what he holds dear he is freed from that sin.

Verse 24 (12.34.24)

अवकीर्णनिमित्तं तु ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं चरेत् । गोचर्मवासाः षण्मासांस्तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥

avakīrṇanimittaṃ tu brahmahatyāvrataṃ caret | gocarmavāsāḥ ṣaṇmāsāṃstathā mucyeta kilbiṣāt

For breaking the vow of chastity he should perform the vow for killing a brahmin: dressed in a cowhide for six months, he is thus freed from sin.

Verse 25 (12.34.25)

परदारोपसेवी तु परस्यापहरन्वसु । संवत्सरं व्रती भूत्वा तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥

paradāropasevī tu parasyāpaharanvasu | saṃvatsaraṃ vratī bhūtvā tathā mucyeta kilbiṣāt

One who goes to another's wife, or takes another's wealth, becomes a keeper of the vow for a year and is thus freed from sin.

Verse 26 (12.34.26)

धनं तु यस्यापहरेत्तस्मै दद्यात्समं वसु । विविधेनाभ्युपायेन तदा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥

dhanaṃ tu yasyāpaharettasmai dadyātsamaṃ vasu | vividhenābhyupāyena tadā mucyeta kilbiṣāt

He should give back to the man whose wealth he took an equal amount of wealth, by whatever means he can; then he is freed from sin.

Verse 27 (12.34.27)

कृच्छ्राद्द्वादशरात्रेण संयतात्मा व्रते स्थितः । परिवेत्ता भवेत्पूतः परिवित्तिस्तथैव च ॥

kṛcchrāddvādaśarātreṇa saṃyatātmā vrate sthitaḥ | parivettā bhavetpūtaḥ parivittistathaiva ca

By a twelve-night austerity, self-controlled and steadfast in the vow, the younger who married before his elder becomes pure, and so does the elder who was passed over.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 is a variant of CE 12.36.24a (CE kṛcchrād dvādaśarātreṇa svabhyastena daśāvaram; Wikisource संयतात्मा व्रते स्थितः for svabhyastena daśāvaram); line 2 = CE 12.36.24c (parivettā bhavet pūtaḥ parivittiś ca bhārata; Wikisource तथैव च for ca bhārata).

Verse 28 (12.34.28)

निवेश्यं तु पुनस्तेन भवेत्तारयता पितॄन् । न तु स्त्रिया भवेद्दोषो न तु सा तेन लिप्यते ॥

niveśyaṃ tu punastena bhavettārayatā pitṝn | na tu striyā bhaveddoṣo na tu sā tena lipyate

By him, who would rescue his forefathers, a marriage is to be made again; no fault falls on the woman, and she is not stained by it.

Verse 29 (12.34.29)

भोजनं ह्यन्तराशुद्धं चातुर्मास्ये विधीयते । स्त्रियस्तेन प्रशुध्यन्ति इति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥

bhojanaṃ hyantarāśuddhaṃ cāturmāsye vidhīyate | striyastena praśudhyanti iti dharmavido viduḥ

A meal that purifies the inner self is prescribed for the four months of the rains; by it women are purified, so the knowers of dharma know.

Verse 30 (12.34.30)

स्त्रियस्त्वाशङ्किताः पापे नोपगम्या विजानता । रजसा ता विशुध्यन्ते भस्मना भाजनं यथा ॥

striyastvāśaṅkitāḥ pāpe nopagamyā vijānatā | rajasā tā viśudhyante bhasmanā bhājanaṃ yathā

Women suspected of wrong are not to be approached by one who knows; they are purified by their monthly course, as a vessel by ashes.

Verse 31 (12.34.31)

पादजोच्छिष्टकांस्यं यद्गवा घ्रातमथापि वा । गण्डूषोच्छिष्टमपि वा विशुध्येद्दशभिस्तु तत् ॥

pādajocchiṣṭakāṃsyaṃ yadgavā ghrātamathāpi vā | gaṇḍūṣocchiṣṭamapi vā viśudhyeddaśabhistu tat

A bronze vessel soiled by the leavings of a Shudra, or smelt by a cow, or soiled by a mouth-rinsing, is cleansed by ten cleansings.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.36.27d*0049 (lines 01-02).

Verse 32 (12.34.32)

चतुष्पात्सकलो धर्मो ब्राह्मणस्य विधीयते । पादोन इष्टो राजन्ये तथा धर्मो विधीयते ॥

catuṣpātsakalo dharmo brāhmaṇasya vidhīyate | pādona iṣṭo rājanye tathā dharmo vidhīyate

The full four-footed dharma is laid down for a brahmin; for a kshatriya, a quarter less is laid down.

Verse 33 (12.34.33)

तथा वैश्ये च शूद्रे च पादः पादो विधीयते । विद्यादेवंविधेनैषां गुरुलाघवनिश्चयम् ॥

tathā vaiśye ca śūdre ca pādaḥ pādo vidhīyate | vidyādevaṃvidhenaiṣāṃ gurulāghavaniścayam

So for the vaishya and the shudra a quarter at each step is deducted; by this method one should determine the gravity or lightness of their cases.

Note on the text: Corrected विद्यादेवंविधनैषां → विद्यादेवंविधेनैषां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped े; the critical edition reads vidyād evaṃvidhenaiṣāṃ).

Verse 34 (12.34.34)

तिर्यग्योनिवधं कृत्वा द्रुमांश्छित्वोत्तरान्बहून् । त्रिरात्रं वायुभक्षः स्यात्कर्म च प्रथयन्नरः ॥

tiryagyonivadhaṃ kṛtvā drumāṃśchitvottarānbahūn | trirātraṃ vāyubhakṣaḥ syātkarma ca prathayannaraḥ

Having killed a creature of animal birth, or cut down many trees besides, a man should live on air for three nights, making his deed known.

Verse 35 (12.34.35)

अगम्यागमने राजन्प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते । आर्द्रवस्त्रेण षण्मासान्विभाव्यं भस्मशायिना ॥

agamyāgamane rājanprāyaścittaṃ vidhīyate | ārdravastreṇa ṣaṇmāsānvibhāvyaṃ bhasmaśāyinā

For going to a forbidden woman, O king, an atonement is prescribed: six months in a wet garment, lying on ashes.

Verse 36 (12.34.36)

एवमेव तु सर्वेषामकार्याणां विधिर्भवेत् । ब्रह्मणोक्तेन विधिना दृष्टान्तागमहेतुभिः ॥

evameva tu sarveṣāmakāryāṇāṃ vidhirbhavet | brahmaṇoktena vidhinā dṛṣṭāntāgamahetubhiḥ

The same rule holds for all forbidden acts, by the procedure spoken by Brahma, supported by examples, scripture and reasons.

Verse 37 (12.34.37)

सावित्रीमप्यधीयानः शुचौ देशे मिताशनः । अहिंसो मन्दकं जल्पन्मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषात् ॥

sāvitrīmapyadhīyānaḥ śucau deśe mitāśanaḥ | ahiṃso mandakaṃ jalpanmucyate sarvakilbiṣāt

Reciting even the Savitri in a clean place, eating moderately, harming none and speaking little, he is freed from all sins.

Note on the text: Corrected जल्पान्मुच्यते → जल्पन्मुच्यते (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel sign (ा for the participle ending); the critical edition reads ahiṃsro 'mandako 'jalpan, and the line needs the participle जल्पन्).

Verse 38 (12.34.38)

अहः सु सततं तिष्ठेदभ्याकाशं निशाः स्वपन् । त्रिरह्नि त्रिर्निशायां च सवासा जलमाविशेत् ॥

ahaḥ su satataṃ tiṣṭhedabhyākāśaṃ niśāḥ svapan | trirahni trirniśāyāṃ ca savāsā jalamāviśet

Through the days let him keep standing, and at night sleep in the open air; thrice by day and thrice by night let him enter the water in his clothes.

Verse 39 (12.34.39)

स्त्रीशूद्रपतितांश्चापि नाभिभाषेद्व्रतान्वितः । पापान्यज्ञानतः कृत्वा मुच्येदेवंव्रतो द्विजः ॥

strīśūdrapatitāṃścāpi nābhibhāṣedvratānvitaḥ | pāpānyajñānataḥ kṛtvā mucyedevaṃvrato dvijaḥ

Bound by his vow, he should not speak to women, shudras or fallen men; a twice-born who has sinned in ignorance is freed by keeping such a vow.

Note on the text: Corrected नाभिभाषेद्ब्रतान्वितः → नाभिभाषेद्व्रतान्वितः (misprint in Wikisource; misprint (ब्र for व्र); the critical edition reads vratānvitaḥ).

Verse 40 (12.34.40)

शुभाशुभफलं प्रेत्य लभते भूतसाक्षिकम् । अतिरिच्येत्तयोर्यस्तु तत्कर्ता लभते फलम् ॥

śubhāśubhaphalaṃ pretya labhate bhūtasākṣikam | atiricyettayoryastu tatkartā labhate phalam

After death a man receives the fruit of his good and evil, with beings as witnesses; whichever of the two exceeds the other, its doer receives that fruit.

Verse 41 (12.34.41)

तस्माद्दानेन तपसा कर्मणा च फलं शुभम् । वर्धयेदशुभं कृत्वा यथा स्यादतिरेकवान् ॥

tasmāddānena tapasā karmaṇā ca phalaṃ śubham | vardhayedaśubhaṃ kṛtvā yathā syādatirekavān

Therefore, having done wrong, he should increase his good fruit by giving, austerity and rites, so that the good may be in excess.

Verse 42 (12.34.42)

कुर्याच्छुभानि कर्माणि निमित्ते पापकर्मणाम् । दद्यान्नित्यं च वित्तानि तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥

kuryācchubhāni karmāṇi nimitte pāpakarmaṇām | dadyānnityaṃ ca vittāni tathā mucyeta kilbiṣāt

Let him do good deeds to answer his sinful ones, and give away wealth constantly; thus he is freed from sin.

Verse 43 (12.34.43)

अनुरूपं हि पापस्य प्रायश्चित्तमुदाहृतम् । महापातकवर्जं तु प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते ॥

anurūpaṃ hi pāpasya prāyaścittamudāhṛtam | mahāpātakavarjaṃ tu prāyaścittaṃ vidhīyate

An atonement fitting each sin has been declared; atonement is prescribed apart from the great sins.

Verse 44 (12.34.44)

भक्ष्याभक्ष्येषु चान्येषु वाच्यावाच्ये तथैव च । अज्ञानज्ञानयो राजन्विहितान्यनुजानतः ॥

bhakṣyābhakṣyeṣu cānyeṣu vācyāvācye tathaiva ca | ajñānajñānayo rājanvihitānyanujānataḥ

In matters of what may and may not be eaten, in other matters, in what may and may not be said, whether through ignorance or knowledge, O king, these are laid down for one who follows what is prescribed.

Verse 45 (12.34.45)

जानता तु कृतं पापं गुरु सर्वं भवत्युत । अज्ञानात्स्खलिते दोषे प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते ॥

jānatā tu kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ guru sarvaṃ bhavatyuta | ajñānātskhalite doṣe prāyaścittaṃ vidhīyate

A sin committed knowingly becomes heavy in every way; for a fault that comes from a slip in ignorance, atonement is prescribed.

Verse 46 (12.34.46)

शक्यते विधिना पापं यथोक्तेन व्यपोहितुम् । आस्तिके श्रद्दधाने च विधिरेष विधीयते ॥

śakyate vidhinā pāpaṃ yathoktena vyapohitum | āstike śraddadhāne ca vidhireṣa vidhīyate

Sin can be removed by the rule as it has been laid down; this rule is prescribed for the believer who has faith.

Verse 47 (12.34.47)

नास्तिकाश्रद्दधानेषु पुरुषेषु कदाचन । दम्भद्वेषप्रधानेषु विधिरेष न शिष्यते ॥

nāstikāśraddadhāneṣu puruṣeṣu kadācana | dambhadveṣapradhāneṣu vidhireṣa na śiṣyate

For unbelievers and the faithless, men given to pretence and hatred, this rule is never taught.

Verse 48 (12.34.48)

शिष्टाचारश्च दिष्टश्च धर्मो धर्मभूतां वर । सेवितव्यो नरव्याघ्र प्रेत्येह च हितेप्सुना ॥

śiṣṭācāraśca diṣṭaśca dharmo dharmabhūtāṃ vara | sevitavyo naravyāghra pretyeha ca hitepsunā

The conduct of the good and what the scriptures enjoin is dharma, O best of those who uphold dharma; one who seeks welfare here and hereafter should follow it, O tiger among men.

Verse 49 (12.34.49)

स राजन्मोक्ष्यते पापात्तेन पूर्वेण हेतुना । त्राणार्थं वा वधे तेषामथवा नृपकर्मणा ॥

sa rājanmokṣyate pāpāttena pūrveṇa hetunā | trāṇārthaṃ vā vadhe teṣāmathavā nṛpakarmaṇā

By that same earlier reason, O king, you will be freed from sin: that the slaying of them was for protection, or was the king's duty.

Note on the text: Corrected पूर्णेन → पूर्वेण (misprint in Wikisource; misprint (ण for व); the critical edition reads pūrveṇa, 'the earlier reason', which the sense requires).

Verse 50 (12.34.50)

अथवा ते घृणा काचित्प्रायश्चित्तं चरिष्यसि । मा चैवानार्यजुष्टेन मृत्युना निधनं गमः ॥

athavā te ghṛṇā kācitprāyaścittaṃ cariṣyasi | mā caivānāryajuṣṭena mṛtyunā nidhanaṃ gamaḥ

Or if you feel some revulsion, you may do the penance; but do not meet your death by a death that ignoble men choose.

Verse 51 (12.34.51)

एवमुक्तो भगवता धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तेन प्रत्युवाच तपोधनम् ॥

evamukto bhagavatā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | cintayitvā muhūrtena pratyuvāca tapodhanam

Thus addressed by the blessed sage, King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, reflected for a moment and replied to him, rich in austerity.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads muhūrtaṃ tu (12.37.1) for Wikisource मुहूर्तेन; kept as the base text reads. The CE numbers this half-verse as the first of its adhyaya 37 (after a heading vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca). Speaker spelling normalised from वैशंपायन to वैशम्पायन.