Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच स्वकर्मण्यपरे युक्तास्तथैवान्ये विकर्मणि तेषां विशेषमाचक्ष्व ब्राह्मणानां पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O grandfather, amongst Brahmanas some follow the duties proper to their order while others follow other duties. Tell me the difference between tow lasses.
भीष्म उवाच विद्यालक्षणसंपन्नाः सर्वत्राम्नायदर्शिनः एते ब्रह्मसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणाः परिकीर्तिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those Brahmanas, o king, who are learned and beneficent, and who look upon all creatures impartially, are said to be equal to। Brahma.
ऋत्विगाचार्यसंपन्नाः स्वेषु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः एते देवसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत
M. N. Dutt: Those who are conversant with the Rishis, the Yajus, and the Samans and who follow the practices of their order, are, O king, equal to the very gods.
ऋत्विक्पुरोहितो मन्त्री दूतोऽथार्थानुशासकः एते क्षत्रसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत
M. N. Dutt: Those who become Ritwijas, Purohitas, counsellors, envoys and messengers become, O king, equal to Kshatriyas.
Supplementary Passages:
12.77.4 After 4, S (T2 G1 M ins. lines 1-2 after 5) ins.: while D7 (which om. 4) ins. after 3: *189 गोजाविमहिषाणां च वडवानां च पोषकाः वृत्त्यर्थमभिपद्यन्ते तान्वैश्यान्संप्रचक्षते ऐश्वर्यकामा ये चापि सामिषार्थाश्च भारत निग्रहानुग्रहरतांस्तान्द्विजान्क्षत्रियान्विदुः
अश्वारोहा गजारोहा रथिनोऽथ पदातयः एते वैश्यसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत
M. N. Dutt: Those, who ride horses or elephants or cars or become foot-soldiers, become, O king, equal to Vaishyas.
जन्मकर्मविहीना ये कदर्या ब्रह्मबन्धवः एते शूद्रसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत
AI Translation: Those who are devoid of birth and deeds, who are wicked, who are bound by the Vedas, These are equal to Shudras, O king, among the Brahmanas.
अश्रोत्रियाः सर्व एव सर्वे चानाहिताग्नयः तान्सर्वान्धार्मिको राजा बलिं विष्टिं च कारयेत्
AI Translation: All those who are not Vedic scholars, all those who have not kindled the sacred fire, the righteous king should make them pay taxes and levies.
आह्वायका देवलका नक्षत्रग्रामयाजकाः एते ब्राह्मणचण्डाला महापथिकपञ्चमाः
AI Translation: Summoners, astrologers, village priests, these are the five kinds of outcaste Brahmins, the fifth being the great travelers.
एतेभ्यो बलिमादद्याद्धीनकोशो महीपतिः ऋते ब्रह्मसमेभ्यश्च देवकल्पेभ्य एव च
M. N. Dutt: If the king's treasury is not well replenished, he may take tribute from these. In realising tribute, the king, however, should except those Brahmanas who are equal to the gods or Brahma.
अब्राह्मणानां वित्तस्य स्वामी राजेति वैदिकम् ब्राह्मणानां च ये केचिद्विकर्मस्था भवन्त्युत
M. N. Dutt: The Vedas say that the king is the master of the wealth of all the orders except Brahmanas. He can take the wealth of those Brahmanas who have neglected to perform their legitimate duties.
Supplementary Passages:
12.77.10 After 10, D7 S ins.: *190 प्रागुक्तांश्चाप्यनुक्तांश्च सर्वांस्तान्दापयेत्करान्
विकर्मस्थास्तु नोपेक्ष्या जातु राज्ञा कथंचन नियम्याः संविभज्याश्च धर्मानुग्रहकाम्यया
M. N. Dutt: The king should never treat in-differently those Brahmanas who do not observe their duties. For the sake of making his people virtuous, he should punish and take them away from their betters.
यस्य स्म विषये राज्ञः स्तेनो भवति वै द्विजः राज्ञ एवापराधं तं मन्यन्ते तद्विदो जनाः
M. N. Dutt: That king, O monarch, in whose territories a Brahmana becomes a thief, is charged by the learned as the doer of that misdeed.
अवृत्त्या यो भवेत्स्तेनो वेदवित्स्नातकस्तथा राजन्स राज्ञा भर्तव्य इति धर्मविदो विदुः
M. N. Dutt: Persons conversant with the Vedas declare that if a Brahmana versed in the Vedas and observant of vows becomes, through want of means, a thief, it is the duty of the king to support him.
स चेन्नो परिवर्तेत कृतवृत्तिः परंतप ततो निर्वासनीयः स्यात्तस्माद्देशात्सबान्धवः
M. N. Dutt: If, after provision has been made for his maintenance, he does not abstain from thefts, he should then, O scorcher of foes, be exiled from the kingdom with all his relatives.
Supplementary Passages:
12.77.14 After 14, D7 S ins.: *191 यज्ञः श्रुतमपैशुन्यमहिंसातिथिपूजनम् दमः सत्यं तपो दानमेतद्ब्राह्मणलक्षणम्