Shloka 23
“मानद! दक्षिणायुक्त कर्म ही सफल होता है। दक्षिणा देनेवाले पुरुषको ही सिद्धि प्राप्त होती है ।। स्वर्गे क्रतुफलं तद्धि दक्षिणा शान्तिरुच्यते । किमाहरामि गुर्वर्थ ब्रवीतु भगवानिति,'दक्षिणा देनेवाला मनुष्य ही स्वर्गमें यज्ञका फल पाता है। वेदमें दक्षिणाको ही शान्तिप्रद बताया गया है। अतः पूज्य गुरुदेव! बतावें कि मैं क्या गुरुदक्षिणा ले आऊँ?
Nārada uvāca: “Mānada! dakṣiṇā-yuktaṃ karma hi saphalaṃ bhavati. dakṣiṇā-dātur eva puruṣasya siddhiḥ prāpyate. svarge kratu-phalaṃ tad dhi dakṣiṇā; śāntir ucyate. kim āharāmi gurv-arthaṃ? bravītu bhagavān iti.”
Nārada said: “O giver of honor! A rite performed together with a proper honorarium truly becomes fruitful. It is the giver of the dakṣiṇā who attains success. Indeed, in heaven the fruit of a sacrifice is said to rest upon dakṣiṇā, and the Veda declares dakṣiṇā to be a source of peace. Therefore, revered teacher—tell me: what shall I bring as your guru’s fee?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A religious act or sacrifice is considered complete and truly fruitful only when accompanied by dakṣiṇā. The merit and ‘peace’ associated with a rite are linked to the giver’s ethical act of honoring the officiant/teacher through an appropriate gift.
Nārada emphasizes the doctrinal value of dakṣiṇā and then, in a posture of humility, asks the revered guru what he should bring as guru-dakṣiṇā—framing the next action as obedience to the teacher’s instruction.