Shloka 5
Brāhmaṇa-māhātmya: Tārkṣya’s instruction on tapas, satya, and svadharma
Chapter 182
कस्माच्चिद् दानयोगाद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते । सत्यवाक्याच्च राजेन्द्र किंचिद् दानं विशिष्यते,राजेन्द्र! किसी दानसे सत्यका ही महत्त्व बढ़ जाता है और कोई-कोई दान ही सत्यभाषणसे अधिक महत्त्व रखता है
kasmāccid dānayogād dhi satyam eva viśiṣyate | satyavākyāc ca rājendra kiṃcid dānaṃ viśiṣyate ||
Dijo la serpiente: «En ciertos casos, entre los caminos del dar, sólo la verdad se alza como suprema. Sin embargo, oh el mejor de los reyes, hay dones cuyo mérito supera incluso el decir la verdad».
सर्प उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a nuanced ethical hierarchy: truthfulness is generally exalted, yet the tradition also recognizes that certain acts of giving—especially those that protect life, relieve extreme suffering, or uphold dharma—can be considered even more meritorious than merely speaking truth.
A serpent addresses a king respectfully as “rājendra” and introduces a moral comparison between satya (truth) and dāna (charitable giving), preparing the ground for a broader instruction on dharma where context determines which virtue takes precedence.