Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
वानर उवाच सदा चाहं फलाहारो ब्राह्मणानां प्लवड्भम: । तस्मान्न ब्राह्मणस्वं तु हर्तव्यं विदुषा सदा । सम॑ विवादो मोक्तव्यो दातव्यं स प्रतिश्रुतम्
vānara uvāca | sadā cāhaṃ phalāhāro brāhmaṇānāṃ plavaṅgamaḥ | tasmān na brāhmaṇasvaṃ tu hartavyaṃ viduṣā sadā | samaṃ vivādo moktavyo dātavyaṃ sa pratiśrutam ||
Dijo el Mono: «Yo solía vivir comiendo frutos que había robado a los brahmanes. Por ese pecado llegué a ser lo que soy. Por ello, el sabio jamás debe robar la propiedad de un brahmán. No debe entrar en disputas con los brahmanes; y cuanto se les haya prometido, ciertamente ha de entregarse».
वानर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches restraint and reverence in social-ethical conduct: never steal a Brahmin’s property, avoid disputes with Brahmins, and faithfully fulfill any promise made to them—presented as dharma reinforced by the speaker’s own karmic downfall.
A monkey speaks in a didactic context, confessing that he used to steal and eat fruit belonging to Brahmins and that this wrongdoing led to his degraded state. Using his experience as a warning, he instructs the listener on proper conduct toward Brahmins and on honoring commitments.