Shloka 33
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
नाहं हालाहलं मन्ये विषं यस्य प्रतिक्रिया । ब्रह्मस्वं हि विषं प्रोक्तं नास्य प्रतिविधिर्भुवि ॥ ३३ ॥
nāhaṁ hālāhalaṁ manye viṣaṁ yasya pratikriyā brahma-svaṁ hi viṣaṁ proktaṁ nāsya pratividhir bhuvi
I do not deem hālāhala to be true poison, for it has an antidote. But a brāhmaṇa’s property, when stolen, is indeed poison, for in this world there is no remedy for it.
One who takes a brāhmaṇa’s property, thinking to enjoy it, has actually taken the most deadly poison.
FAQs
This verse states that brahma-sva is like an incurable poison—unlike ordinary poison, it has no effective counter-remedy in this world, highlighting the extreme gravity of such an offense.
In the Nṛga episode, Kṛṣṇa teaches that even unintended entanglement with brāhmaṇa property can bring severe reactions, so one must be meticulous in charity and never appropriate what belongs to brāhmaṇas.
Respect sacred trusts: avoid misusing donated funds, religious endowments, or resources meant for spiritual service, and practice transparent, careful giving and ethical handling of others’ property.