Upanishads · Bhasmajābāla 1.26
॥
Devanāgarī
ब्राह्मणवधात्पूतो भवति । गोवधात्पूतो भवति । अश्ववधात्पूतो भवति । गुरुवधात्पूतो भवति । मातृवधात्पूतो भवति । पितृवधात्पूतो भवति
Transliteration (IAST)
brāhmaṇavadhātpūto bhavati | govadhātpūto bhavati | aśvavadhātpūto bhavati | guruvadhātpūto bhavati | mātṛvadhātpūto bhavati | pitṛvadhātpūto bhavati
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ब्राह्मण-वधात् पूतः भवतिbrāhmaṇa-vadhāt pūtaḥ bhavatibecomes pure of killing a brahmin
गो-वधात् अश्व-वधात्go-vadhāt aśva-vadhātof killing a cow, of killing a horse
गुरु-वधात् पूतः भवतिguru-vadhāt pūtaḥ bhavatibecomes pure of killing a teacher
मातृ-वधात् पितृ-वधात्mātṛ-vadhāt pitṛ-vadhātof killing a mother, of killing a father
Translation
«Becomes pure of killing a brahmin; of killing a cow; of killing a horse; of killing a teacher; of killing a mother; of killing a father».
Version
8910957e4c2a · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
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Here is a place about which one must speak with full directness: purification is promised from the killing of a mother and a father. Let us say this at once and without softening. This promise, read literally, is monstrous and false; and we do not accept it.
Let us examine why it appears at all, for this explains the whole class of such passages. In listing its fruits, the book seeks the strongest example: to show the power of the means, the gravest of conceivable crimes is taken, and it is said that even this is removed. This device is universal in laudatory recitations, and it exists in Vaishnava books too: the Bhāgavatam says the Name removes even what no atonement removes (6.2).
But there is a measure too, and it must be named. The removal of guilt is not the undoing of the deed; the slain does not rise, and the orphan does not cease to be an orphan. This was discussed when reading Rudra-hṛdaya (25).
And there is a second measure, more important still. One who, knowing of such a promise, goes and commits the deed falls under the one thing nothing covers; and on nāma-aparādha see the discussion when reading Devī (22). Worth adding what applies to the reading of all such passages. Such promises are given to the repentant, not to the one still planning; they are spoken to one who has already done the deed and does not know how to go on living — not to one weighing whether to try.