Shloka 28
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
नहुष उवाच अतिथिर्ग॑हसंस्थो<स्तु कामवृत्तस्तु दीक्षित: । विद्यां प्रयच्छतु भूतो यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
Nahuṣa uvāca: atithir gṛha-saṁstho 'stu kāma-vṛttaḥ tu dīkṣitaḥ | vidyāṁ prayacchatu bhūto yas te harati puṣkaram ||
قال نَهُوشا: «مَن سرق زهورَ لوتسك فليكن سَنّياسِن (sannyāsin) ومع ذلك يلازم البيت؛ وليتلقَّ الديكشا (dīkṣā) لليَجْنَة ثم يعيش على الهوى والشهوة؛ وليُعلِّم المعرفة بأجر—أي ليحمل نصيبه من ثمار الإثم الناشئة عن هذه السُّبل المنافقة المخالِفة للدَّهَرما».
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns hypocrisy: adopting revered religious or social statuses (guest, consecrated sacrificer, teacher) while violating their ethical restraints. Such role-playing without inner discipline is treated as sinful and brings negative karmic consequence.
Nahuṣa pronounces an imprecatory wish/curse against the person who stole the other party’s lotus-flowers, invoking ironic punishments: the thief should bear the taint of living as a house-dwelling ‘guest,’ a desire-driven ‘initiated’ votary, and a wage-taking teacher—figures seen here as corruptions of dharma.