Shloka 956
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
ब्राह्मणास्तपसा युक्ता यथाशक्ति प्रदायिन: । “उस स्वर्गद्वारकी जो अर्गला (किल्ली) है, वह लोभरूपी बीजसे बनी हुई है। वह द्वार रागके द्वारा गुप्त है, इसीलिये उसके भीतर प्रवेश करना बहुत ही कठिन है। जो लोग क्रोधको जीत चुके हैं, इन्द्रियोंको वशमें कर चुके हैं, वे यथाशक्ति दान देनेवाले तपस्वी ब्राह्मण ही उस द्वारको देख पाते हैं
brāhmaṇās tapasā yuktā yathāśakti pradāyinaḥ |
The father-in-law said: “Those Brahmins who are disciplined by austerity and who give in charity according to their capacity are the ones who can truly perceive the ‘gate of heaven.’ Its bolt is fashioned from the seed of greed, and the gate is concealed by attachment; therefore entry within is exceedingly difficult. Only ascetic Brahmins—who have conquered anger, mastered the senses, and give as they are able—can even behold that gate.”
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual attainment is obstructed by greed and attachment; entry to higher states is difficult unless one conquers anger, restrains the senses, practices austerity, and gives charity according to one’s means.
A speaker identified as the father-in-law delivers a moral instruction, describing the ‘gate of heaven’ as hidden and locked by inner vices, and praising disciplined, charitable Brahmins as those capable of perceiving and approaching it.