कालयुक्तधर्मविवेकः
Discerning Dharma in Accord with Time
जब दूसरेका धन निर्जन वनमें पड़ा हुआ दिखायी दे, उस समय भी जो उसकी ओर मन ललचाकर किसीकी हिंसा नहीं करते, वे मनुष्य स्वर्गमें जाते हैं ।।
grāme gṛhe vā ye dravyaṃ pārakyaṃ vijane sthitam | nābhinandanti vai nityaṃ te narāḥ svargagāminaḥ ||
Mahādeva said: Those who, even upon seeing another’s wealth lying in a secluded spot—whether in a village or in a house—do not inwardly relish it or delight in the thought of taking it, and do not resort to harm for its sake, are the kind of people who attain heaven.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
The verse teaches asteya (non-stealing) at the level of the mind: even if someone else’s valuables are found unattended in a secluded place, one should not feel delight, approval, or craving toward them. Such inner restraint is praised as a cause of heavenly merit.
Śrī Maheśvara is delivering a dharma-instruction in Anuśāsana Parva, listing virtues and restraints. Here he highlights a specific test of character—encountering unguarded чуж property—and declares that those who do not mentally ‘welcome’ the opportunity to take it are svarga-gāmin (destined for heaven).