Shloka 22
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
“वत्स गालव! अब मैं तुम्हें आज्ञा देता हूँ, तुम्हारी जहाँ इच्छा हो, जाओ।” उनके इस प्रकार आदेश देनेपर गालवने प्रसन्नता प्रकट करते हुए मधुर वाणीमें महातेजस्वी मुनिवर विश्वामित्रसे इस प्रकार पूछा--“भगवन्! मैं आपको गुरुदक्षिणाके रूपमें क्या दूँ? ।। दक्षिणाभिरुपेतं हि कर्म सिद्धयति मानद । दक्षिणानां हि दाता वै अपवर्गेण युज्यते
nārada uvāca | vatsa gālava! adhunāhaṃ tvām ājñāpayāmi—yatra te icchā, tatra gaccha | tasyaivam ājñā-dāne gālavaḥ praharṣaṃ prakāśayan madhurayā vācā mahātejasvinaṃ munivaraṃ viśvāmitram idaṃ papraccha—“bhagavan! gurudakṣiṇā-rūpeṇa kiṃ te dadāmi? dakṣiṇābhir upetaṃ hi karma sidhyati, mānada; dakṣiṇānāṃ hi dātā vai apavargeṇa yujyate.”
Nārada said: “My child Gālava, I now give you leave—go wherever you wish.” When he had thus granted permission, Gālava, showing his joy, addressed the radiant sage Viśvāmitra in gentle words and asked: “Revered sir, what shall I give you as the teacher’s fee? For an undertaking succeeds when accompanied by a proper gift, O bestower of honor; and the giver of such gifts is said to be joined with liberation.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes the ethical principle that one should honor learning and sacred undertakings through appropriate giving (dakṣiṇā). Such generosity is portrayed not merely as social courtesy but as spiritually efficacious—supporting the success of righteous action and orienting the giver toward apavarga (liberation).
After being granted permission to depart, Gālava respectfully approaches the powerful sage Viśvāmitra and asks what he should offer as gurudakṣiṇā. He frames his request with a maxim: actions succeed when accompanied by a proper gift, and the giver gains spiritual merit leading toward liberation.