Shloka 48
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
ऋषय ऊचु: कुशलं सह दानेन तस्मै यस्य प्रजा इमा: । फलान्युपधियुक्तानि य एवं न: प्रयच्छति,ऋषियोंने कहा--जिसकी प्रजा ये कपटयुक्त फल देनेके लिये ले आयी है तथा जो इस प्रकार फलके व्याजसे हमें सुवर्णदान कर रहा है, वह राजा अपने दानके साथ ही कुशलसे रहे
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ: kuśalaṃ saha dānena tasmai yasya prajā imāḥ | phalāny upadhiyuktāni ya evaṃ naḥ prayacchati ||
Die Weisen sprachen: „Wohlergehen begleite jenen König samt seiner Gabe—ihn, dessen Untertanen diese von Trug befleckten Früchte gebracht haben und der unter dem Vorwand, Früchte darzubringen, uns so Gold schenkt. Möge er sicher und gedeihlich bleiben, vereint mit seiner Tat des Gebens.“
पशुसख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between outward acts and inner intent: even when a gift is routed through a deceptive pretext (fruits used as a cover), the act is still framed as dāna, and the sages respond with a blessing for the giver’s welfare—inviting reflection on how charity, motive, and social propriety interact in dharma discourse.
A king (through his subjects) presents fruits that are ‘upadhi-yukta’—serving as a pretext—while actually giving valuable wealth (gold) to the sages. The sages recognize the stratagem and pronounce a benediction: may the king remain well and prosperous together with his gift.