Shloka 37
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
गालव उवाच पापिषछेभ्यो हानर्घाह: स नरो<स्तु स्वपापकृत् । दत्त्वा दानं कीर्तयतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
Gālava uvāca: pāpiṣṭhebhyo hānārghāḥ sa naro 'stu svapāpakṛt; dattvā dānaṃ kīrtayatu yas te harati puṣkaram.
قال غالَفَة: «ليُعَدَّ الرجلُ الذي سرقَ لوتسك أحقرَ من أعتى المذنبين؛ ممن يجرّ بأعماله الخبيثة الأذى حتى على أهله وذويه. وإن تصدّقَ بعطاءٍ، فليكن من الذين يذيعون صدقتهم بأفواههم طلبًا للثناء، لا ابتغاءً للاستقامة الحقّة.»
गालव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns theft and moral shamelessness, and also criticizes performative charity—giving gifts while seeking self-praise—implying that true merit requires integrity and humility, not merely outward acts.
Gālava speaks a harsh denunciation of an unnamed person who has stolen ‘your lotus’ (puṣkara). He declares such a thief to be more contemptible than great sinners and portrays him as someone who even after giving charity would publicly boast about it.