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IX.
PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS IN THE INTEREST
OF THE BRAHMANS.
V, 18. Imprecation against the oppressors of
Brahmans. 1. The gods, O king, did not give to thee this Icow) to eat. Do not, O prince, seek to devour the cow of the Brahmana, which is unfit to be eaten!
2. The prince, beguiled by dice, the wretched one who has lost as a stake his own person, he may, perchance, eat the cow of the Brâhmana, (thinking), let me live to-day (if) not to-morrow'!
3. Enveloped (is she) in her skin, as an adder with evil poison; do not, O prince, (eat the cow) of the Brâhmana : sapless, unfit to be eaten, is that cow!
4. Away does (the Brahmana) take regal power, destroys vigour; like fire which has caught does he burn away everything. He that regards the Brâhmana as fit food drinks of the poison of the taimâta-serpent.
5. He who thinks him (the Brahman) mild, and slays him, he who reviles the gods, lusts after wealth, without thought, in his heart Indra kindles a fire; him both heaven and earth hate while he lives.
6. The Brahmana must not be encroached upon,
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