Shloka 24
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
शुक्र उवाच वृथामांसं समश्नातु दिवा गच्छतु मैथुनम् । प्रेष्यो भवतु राज्ञश्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्,शुक्रने कहा--जो आपका कमल चुराकर ले गया हो, उसे मांस खानेका, दिनमें मैथुन करनेका और राजाकी नौकरी करनेका पाप लगे
śukra uvāca vṛthā-māṁsaṁ samaśnātu divā gacchatu maithunam | preṣyo bhavatu rājñaś ca yas te harati puṣkaram ||
Śukra said: “Let the one who steals your lotus incur these degrading consequences: let him eat meat without purpose, let him engage in sexual intercourse by day, and let him become a menial servant of a king.”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys that theft and violation of another’s rightful possession invite moral and social degradation; the ‘punishments’ are framed as shameful modes of life—wanton consumption, improper sexuality, and servile dependence—signaling a fall from dharmic conduct.
Śukra pronounces an imprecatory statement against an unnamed offender: whoever stole ‘your lotus’ is condemned to certain disreputable conditions, functioning as a curse meant to mark and diminish the wrongdoer.