Shloka 3
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
परान् सृजसि यद् वित्तं किंचित्त्वं बहु मूढवत् । अपात्रदाने ये दोषास्तान् मोहान्नावबुध्यसे,मूढ़ पुरुषोंके समान तुम अपना बहुत कुछ धन जो दूसरोंको दे रहे हो, इससे जान पड़ता है कि अपात्रको धनका दान देनेसे जो दोष पैदा होते हैं, उन्हें मोहवश तुम नहीं समझ रहे हो
parān sṛjasi yad vittaṃ kiñcit tvaṃ bahu mūḍhavat | apātradāne ye doṣās tān mohān nāvabudhyase ||
Śalya said: “Since you are giving away a great deal of your wealth to others, like a deluded man, it appears you do not, out of infatuation, understand the faults that arise from giving gifts to the unworthy.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is not judged only by the act of giving; it must be guided by discernment (pātra/apātra). Giving wealth indiscriminately to the unworthy can generate ethical and practical harm, so one should understand the consequences of apātra-dāna and give with discrimination.
Śalya addresses his interlocutor in a critical, admonishing tone, pointing out that the person is giving away substantial wealth ‘like a deluded man’ and warning that this shows ignorance of the faults that arise when gifts are given to unworthy recipients.