Upanishads · Bhasmajābāla 2.48
॥
Devanāgarī
मधुनाभिषिच्य गुरुदारगमनात्पूतो भवति । सितया शर्करयाभिषिच्य सर्वजीववधात्पूतो भवति
Transliteration (IAST)
madhunābhiṣicya gurudāragamanātpūto bhavati | sitayā śarkarayābhiṣicya sarvajīvavadhātpūto bhavati
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
मधुना अभिषिच्यmadhunā abhiṣicyahaving bathed [it] with honey
गुरु-दार-गमनात् पूतः भवतिguru-dāra-gamanāt pūtaḥ bhavatihe becomes pure of relations with the teacher's wife
सितया शर्करया अभिषिच्यsitayā śarkarayā abhiṣicyahaving bathed [it] with white sugar
सर्व-जीव-वधात् पूतः भवतिsarva-jīva-vadhāt pūtaḥ bhavatihe becomes pure of the killing of all living beings
Translation
«Having bathed [it] with honey — he becomes pure of relations with the teacher's wife; having bathed [it] with white sugar — he becomes pure of the killing of all living beings».
Version
604699c1c665 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The list is brought to its end, and last in it is sarva-jīva-vadha, «the killing of all living beings». It is worth saying plainly that four of the five great sins discussed when reading the first chapter (1.24) are listed here: the killing of a brahmin, the theft of gold, relations with the teacher's wife — with universal killing added. On these promises enough was already said when reading the first chapter (1.26), and there is no need to repeat it. Let me recall only two measures.
The first: the removal of guilt is not the undoing of what was done. The slain does not rise again. The second: such promises are spoken to the repentant, not to the one still planning; and one who goes to sin knowing of them falls under the one thing nothing covers.
Worth adding here a third measure, relevant to this passage. Notice the proportionality: the sweeter the substance, the heavier the sin. Milk — for the killing of a brahmin; honey — for relations with the teacher's wife; sugar — for universal killing.
That is, for the gravest offense is prescribed the sweetest offering. This proportionality, on reflection, runs the reverse of what one would expect: for the worse deed — not a worse penance, but a better offering. And in this, to my mind, lies something rightly understood: the guilty one has nothing with which to pay, and so what is asked of him is not suffering, but the very best that he has.