Shloka 10
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
नृग उवाच नृगो नाम नरेन्द्रोऽहमिक्ष्वाकुतनय: प्रभो । दानिष्वाख्यायमानेषु यदि ते कर्णमस्पृशम् ॥ १० ॥
nṛga uvāca nṛgo nāma narendro ’ham ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ prabho dāniṣv ākhyāyamāneṣu yadi te karṇam aspṛśam
King Nṛga said: “O Lord, I am the king named Nṛga, son of Ikṣvāku. Perhaps my name once reached Your ears when the rolls of charitable men were recited.”
The ācāryas point out here that although a tentative expression is used — “perhaps You have heard of me” — the implication is that there is no doubt.
FAQs
In this verse, King Nṛga introduces himself while referring to the narration of his charitable acts, setting the stage for the Bhagavatam’s teaching that even pious charity must be done carefully and in harmony with dharma.
Nṛga addresses Krishna to explain his identity and the background of his charitable deeds, as part of the larger episode in which Krishna reveals the moral and karmic results of a mistake connected to a donated cow.
Even good intentions (like generosity) should be paired with responsibility—verify details, avoid harming others through negligence, and remain humble when accounting for one’s actions.