Shloka 132
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
शुन:सख उवाच अध्वर्यवे दुहितरं वा ददातु च्छन्दोगे वा चरितब्रह्यचर्ये आशरथर्वणं वेदमधीत्य विप्र: स््नायीत वा यो हरते बिसानि
Śunaḥsakha uvāca—adhvaryave duhitaraṃ vā dadātu chāndoge vā carita-brahmacarye; āśaratharvaṇaṃ vedam adhītya vipraḥ snāyīta vā yo harate bisāni.
শুনঃসখে ক’লে—যিয়ে মৃণাল (পদ্মডাঁটা) চুৰি কৰিছে, সি প্ৰায়শ্চিত্তস্বৰূপে যজুৰ্বেদ-নিষ্ণাত অধ্বৰ্যু বা ব্রহ্মচৰ্য সম্পূৰ্ণ কৰা সামবেদীয় ছান্দোগ পণ্ডিতক কন্যাদান কৰক; নতুবা অথৰ্ববেদ সম্পূৰ্ণ অধ্যয়ন কৰি সেই ব্রাহ্মণে শীঘ্ৰে স্নাতক-স্নান গ্ৰহণ কৰক।
शुन:सख उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even minor theft disrupts dharma and requires restitution. The text recommends expiation that strengthens sacred learning and social responsibility—supporting qualified Vedic priests through a major gift (kanyādāna) or completing Vedic study and the snātaka rite, thereby restoring purity and right conduct.
Śunaḥsakha is prescribing a prāyaścitta (atonement) for someone who has stolen lotus-stalks. He outlines alternative remedies: give one’s daughter in marriage to a properly trained Yajurvedic or Sāmavedic priest who has completed brahmacarya, or complete Atharvavedic study and take the snātaka bath—formalizing a return to disciplined, dharmic life.