Chapter 76

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, amongst Brahmanas some are engaged inthe duties proper to their order, while others are engaged in otherduties. Tell me the difference between these two classes!’

“Bhishma said, ‘Those Brahmanas, O king, that are possessed of learningand beneficent features, and that look upon all creatures with an equaleye, are said to be equal to Brahma. They that are conversant with theRiches, the Yajuses and the Samans, and who are devoted to the practicesof their order, are, O king, equal to the very gods. Those, however,amongst them that are not well-born and not devoted to the duties oftheir order, and are, besides wedded to evil practices, are like Sudras.A virtuous king should realise tribute from and impress without pay intothe public service those Brahmanas that are not possessed of Vedic loreand that have not their own fires to worship. They that are employed incourts of justice for summoning people, they that perform worship forothers for a fee, they that perform the sacrifices of Vaisyas and Sudras,they that officiate in sacrifices on behalf of a whole village, and theythat make voyages on the ocean,–these five are regarded as Chandalasamong Brahmanas.[232] They amongst them that become Ritwikas, Purohitas,counsellors, envoys, and messengers, become, O king, equal toKshatriyas.[233] They amongst them that ride horses or elephants or carsor become foot-soldiers, become, O king, equal to Vaisyas. If the king’streasury is not full, he may realise tribute from these. In realisingtribute, the king, however, should exclude those Brahmanas that are (fortheir conduct) equal to the gods or Brahma. The Vedas say that the kingis the lord of the wealth belonging to all the orders except Brahmanas.He can take the wealth of those Brahmanas also that have fallen away fromtheir legitimate duties. The king should never be indifferent towardsthose Brahmanas that are not observant of their duties. For the sake ofmaking his people virtuous, he should punish and separate them from theirsuperiors. That king, O monarch, in whose territories a Brahmana becomesa thief, is regarded by the learned to be the author of that misdeed.Persons conversant with the Vedas declare that if a Brahmana versed inthe Vedas and observant of vows becomes, through want of sustenance, athief, it is the duty of the king to provide for his support. If, afterprovision has been made for his support, he does not abstain from thefthe should then, O scorcher of foes be banished from the kingdom with allhis kinsmen.'”‘