Shloka 37
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
गालव उवाच पापिषछेभ्यो हानर्घाह: स नरो<स्तु स्वपापकृत् । दत्त्वा दानं कीर्तयतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
Gālava uvāca: pāpiṣṭhebhyo hānārghāḥ sa naro 'stu svapāpakṛt; dattvā dānaṃ kīrtayatu yas te harati puṣkaram.
Gālava berkata: “Semoga orang yang mencuri padmamu itu, oleh dosanya sendiri, dipandang lebih hina daripada para pendosa terbesar; bahkan mencelakakan kaum kerabatnya sendiri. Dan bila ia bersedekah pun, biarlah ia mengumbar-umbarkan sedekah itu dengan mulutnya sendiri demi pujian, bukan demi dharma.”
गालव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns theft and moral shamelessness, and also criticizes performative charity—giving gifts while seeking self-praise—implying that true merit requires integrity and humility, not merely outward acts.
Gālava speaks a harsh denunciation of an unnamed person who has stolen ‘your lotus’ (puṣkara). He declares such a thief to be more contemptible than great sinners and portrays him as someone who even after giving charity would publicly boast about it.