Shloka 19
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
अनुनीतावुभौ विप्रौ धर्मकृच्छ्रगतेन वै । गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥ भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानत: । समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥
anunītāv ubhau viprau dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām
Caught in a dreadful dilemma of dharma, I humbly entreated both brāhmaṇas: “In exchange for this one cow I will give one hundred thousand of the finest cows—please return her to me. Be merciful to your ignorant servant and lift me from this distress, lest I fall into a filthy hell.”
FAQs
This verse highlights sincere contrition and practical restitution—seeking forgiveness and offering appropriate charity—as a dharmic response to wrongdoing.
Because cows are a foremost form of dharmic charity, and the speaker seeks to rectify a serious moral breach by offering an extraordinary, honorable compensation to the brāhmaṇas.
When you cause harm, acknowledge it without excuses, ask forgiveness respectfully, and make concrete restitution—time, resources, or service—in proportion to the damage.