Shloka 4
Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries
नित्यं याचनको न स्यात्पुनस्तं नैव याचयेत् । प्राणानपहरत्येवं याचकस्तस्य दुर्मतेः
nityaṃ yācanako na syātpunastaṃ naiva yācayet | prāṇānapaharatyevaṃ yācakastasya durmateḥ
Qu’on ne devienne pas un mendiant de tous les jours, et qu’on ne sollicite pas sans cesse la même personne. Car ainsi, le demandeur—par son mauvais discernement—semble lui ravir jusqu’à son souffle de vie.
Unspecified (contextual narrator/speaker not provided in the input)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्पुनस्तं = स्यात् + पुनः + तम्; नैव = न + एव; प्राणानपहरत्येवं = प्राणान् + अपहरति + एवम्; याचकस्तस्य = याचकः + तस्य.
FAQs
It advises against making begging a constant habit and against repeatedly asking the same person, emphasizing restraint and self-respect.
It is a moral hyperbole: persistent demands can drain a person’s vitality, peace, and resources, as though their prāṇa were being taken.
It balances charity with right conduct: giving is virtuous, but the seeker of help should also practice moderation and avoid becoming a burden through repeated solicitation.