Shloka 9
अथ प्रायात् पुनरन््य आगच्छदश्वार्थी ब्राह्मणस्तमब्रवीदतियातो दास्यामि त्वरितमेव मे दीयतामित्यब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणस्तस्मै दत्त्वाश्चं रथधुरं गृह्नता व्याहतं ब्राह्मणानां साम्प्रतं नास्ति किंचिदिति,“तत्पश्चात् जब वे आगे बढ़े, तब फिर एक अश्वका इच्छुक ब्राह्मण आ पहुँचा। उसके माँगनेपर राजाने कहा--'मैं शीघ्र ही अपने लक्ष्यतक पहुँचकर घोड़ा दे दूँगा।” ब्राह्मण बोला --'मुझे तुरंत दीजिये।” तब उन्होंने ब्राह्मणको अश्व देकर स्वयं रथका धुरा पकड़ लिया और कहा--'ब्राह्मणोंके लिये ऐसा करना सर्वथा उचित नहीं है”
atha prāyāt punar anya āgacchad aśvārthī brāhmaṇas tam abravīd—atiyāto dāsyāmi tvaritam eva me dīyatām ity abravīd brāhmaṇas tasmai dattvāśvaṃ rathadhuraṃ gṛhṇatā vyāhataṃ—brāhmaṇānāṃ sāmprataṃ nāsti kiñcid iti.
Vaiśampāyana said: As he proceeded onward, another Brahmin arrived, desiring a horse, and addressed him. The king replied, “When I have gone a little farther, I will give it—quickly.” But the Brahmin insisted, “Give it to me at once.” Then the king gave him the horse and himself took hold of the chariot’s pole. Yet he remarked that such a state of affairs—where Brahmins must press for immediate gifts and the giver is reduced to taking up the yoke—signals a grievous disorder, for at present there is nothing left for Brahmins as is proper.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dāna-dharma and the fragility of social-ethical order: a king should give generously, yet it is a sign of adharma and societal distress when Brahmins must urgently demand basic support and the giver is forced into hardship—indicating that proper provision for the learned and dependent has collapsed.
While traveling, the king is approached by another Brahmin who wants a horse. The king asks for a little time, but the Brahmin insists on immediate delivery. The king gives the horse at once and then personally takes up the chariot’s pole, commenting that such circumstances—where Brahmins have nothing and must press for gifts—are not as they should be.