Shloka 34
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
पर्वत उवाच ग्रामे चाधिकृत: सो5स्तु खरयानेन गच्छतु । शुन: कर्षतु वृत्त्यर्थे यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
parvata uvāca grāme cādhikṛtaḥ so 'stu kharayānena gacchatu | śunaḥ karṣatu vṛttyarthe yas te harati puṣkaram ||
Parvata berkata: “Barangsiapa mencuri padmamu, biarlah ia diangkat menjadi pejabat di desa, namun berkeliling dengan kereta keledai. Dan demi nafkahnya, biarlah ia membajak dengan anjing-anjing.”
पर्वत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys a dharmic principle of deterrent justice: theft—especially of another’s valued possession—warrants a punishment that both restrains the offender and publicly marks the wrongdoing, using social humiliation and hard labor as corrective measures.
Parvata proposes a specific penalty for the person who stole ‘your lotus’: the offender should be made a low-status village functionary, forced to travel on a donkey-cart, and compelled to plough using dogs—images meant to signify disgrace and harsh, corrective labor.