Shloka 44
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
शापो हायं भवतोअनुग्रहाय प्राप्तो मया यत्र दृष्टो यमो वै | दानव्युष्टिं तत्र दृष्टवा महात्मन् निःसंदिग्धान् दानधर्माश्चिरिष्ये,आपके द्वारा मुझे जो शाप मिला, वह वास्तवमें मुझपर अनुग्रहके लिये ही प्राप्त हुआ था, जिससे मैंने यमलोकमें जाकर वहाँ यमराजको देखा। महात्मन्! वहाँ दानके फलको प्रत्यक्ष देखकर मैं संदेहरहित दानधर्मोका अनुष्ठान करूँगा
śāpo hāyaṃ bhavato'nugrahāya prāpto mayā yatra dṛṣṭo yamo vai | dānavyuṣṭiṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā mahātman niḥsaṃdigdhān dānadharmāś ciriṣye ||
This curse of yours came to me truly as a blessing, for through it I reached the realm where I beheld Yama himself. O great-souled one, having there seen with my own eyes the manifest outcome of giving, I shall henceforth practice the duties of charity without doubt or hesitation.
नाचिकेत उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even what appears harmful (a curse) can become grace when it leads to direct moral insight; seeing the karmic fruit of generosity removes doubt and strengthens commitment to dāna-dharma.
Nāciketa tells a noble person that the curse he received proved beneficial because it enabled him to reach Yama’s realm and witness Yama and the tangible results of charity; he resolves to practice charitable duties with unwavering certainty.