Shloka 14
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
स्वलङ्कृतेभ्यो गुणशीलवद्भ्य: सीदत्कुटुम्बेभ्य ऋतव्रतेभ्य: । तप:श्रुतब्रह्मवदान्यसद्भ्य: प्रादां युवभ्यो द्विजपुङ्गवेभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥ गोभूहिरण्यायतनाश्वहस्तिन: कन्या: सदासीस्तिलरूप्यशय्या: । वासांसि रत्नानि परिच्छदान् रथा- निष्टं च यज्ञैश्चरितं च पूर्तम् ॥ १५ ॥
sv-alaṅkṛtebhyo guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ sīdat-kuṭumbebhya ṛta-vratebhyaḥ tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ prādāṁ yuvabhyo dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ
Mula-mula aku memuliakan para brāhmaṇa penerima sedekah dengan perhiasan yang indah. Mereka adalah dwija utama yang muda, keluarganya kekurangan, berwatak luhur dan berbudi; teguh pada kebenaran, masyhur dalam tapa, sangat terpelajar dalam Weda, dan suci perilakunya. Kepada mereka kuberikan sapi, tanah, emas, rumah, kuda, gajah, gadis layak nikah beserta pelayan, juga wijen, perak, ranjang halus, pakaian, permata, perabot, dan kereta; selain itu aku melaksanakan yajña dan berbagai karya kebajikan bagi kesejahteraan umum.
FAQs
This verse praises charity given to foremost brāhmaṇas who are truthful, austere, learned, spiritually realized, and generous—showing that dāna is most potent when directed to qualified recipients.
Because dharmic giving is not merely about quantity; it is about honoring spiritual integrity—truthfulness, tapas, śruti, and brahma-jñāna—so that charity supports genuine sādhus and sacred culture.
Give thoughtfully: support people and institutions that demonstrably live by integrity, self-discipline, learning, and service—rather than giving blindly for prestige.