Shloka 9
नात: परं वैनतेय किंचित् पापिष्ठमुच्यते । यथाशानाशनालल्लोके देहि नास्तीति वा वच:,“विनतानन्दन! लोकमें कोई “दीजिये” कहकर कुछ माँगे और उससे यह कह दिया जाय कि जाओ मेरे पास नहीं है, इस प्रकार याचककी आशाको भंग करनेसे जितना पाप लगता है, इससे बढ़कर पापकी दूसरी कोई बात नहीं कही जाती है
nātaḥ paraṃ vainateya kiṃcit pāpiṣṭham ucyate | yathāśānāśanāl loke dehi nāstīti vā vacaḥ |
Nārada said: “O son of Vinatā (Garuḍa), nothing is described as more sinful than this: when, in the world, a person who has come hoping for food or help says, ‘Give,’ and he is answered, ‘Go—there is nothing with me.’ To shatter a supplicant’s hope in this way is counted as the gravest wrongdoing.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns as extremely sinful the act of turning away a petitioner—especially one seeking sustenance—by dismissive denial that destroys hope. It elevates compassion and responsible giving (or at least humane response) as a central duty in dharma.
Nārada addresses Garuḍa (Vainateya) and delivers a moral instruction: among human failings, few are worse than rejecting someone who asks for help with the harsh reply, “I have nothing,” thereby frustrating the seeker’s expectation.