Shloka 28
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
नहुष उवाच अतिथिर्ग॑हसंस्थो<स्तु कामवृत्तस्तु दीक्षित: । विद्यां प्रयच्छतु भूतो यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
Nahuṣa uvāca: atithir gṛha-saṁstho 'stu kāma-vṛttaḥ tu dīkṣitaḥ | vidyāṁ prayacchatu bhūto yas te harati puṣkaram ||
Nahuṣa dit : «Que celui qui a volé tes lotus soit un renonçant et pourtant demeure dans une maison ; qu’il reçoive la dīkṣā pour le yajña et vive néanmoins au gré du désir ; et qu’il enseigne le savoir contre salaire—autrement dit, qu’il porte le fruit des fautes issues de ces manières de vivre hypocrites et contraires au dharma».
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns hypocrisy: adopting revered religious or social statuses (guest, consecrated sacrificer, teacher) while violating their ethical restraints. Such role-playing without inner discipline is treated as sinful and brings negative karmic consequence.
Nahuṣa pronounces an imprecatory wish/curse against the person who stole the other party’s lotus-flowers, invoking ironic punishments: the thief should bear the taint of living as a house-dwelling ‘guest,’ a desire-driven ‘initiated’ votary, and a wage-taking teacher—figures seen here as corruptions of dharma.