Shloka 23
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
“मानद! दक्षिणायुक्त कर्म ही सफल होता है। दक्षिणा देनेवाले पुरुषको ही सिद्धि प्राप्त होती है ।।
Nārada uvāca: “Mānada! dakṣiṇā-yuktaṃ karma hi saphalaṃ bhavati. dakṣiṇā-dātur eva puruṣasya siddhiḥ prāpyate. svarge kratu-phalaṃ tad dhi dakṣiṇā; śāntir ucyate. kim āharāmi gurv-arthaṃ? bravītu bhagavān iti.”
«Ô dispensateur d’honneur ! Un rite accompli avec une dakṣiṇā convenable devient véritablement fécond. C’est le donateur de la dakṣiṇā qui obtient l’accomplissement. En vérité, au ciel, le fruit du sacrifice est dit reposer sur la dakṣiṇā, et le Veda proclame la dakṣiṇā source de paix. Aussi, maître vénérable, dis-moi : que dois-je apporter comme guru-dakṣiṇā ?»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A religious act or sacrifice is considered complete and truly fruitful only when accompanied by dakṣiṇā. The merit and ‘peace’ associated with a rite are linked to the giver’s ethical act of honoring the officiant/teacher through an appropriate gift.
Nārada emphasizes the doctrinal value of dakṣiṇā and then, in a posture of humility, asks the revered guru what he should bring as guru-dakṣiṇā—framing the next action as obedience to the teacher’s instruction.