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
まず私は、施しを受けるバラモンたちを立派な装身具で飾って敬った。彼らは困窮する家の若き最上の二度生で、徳と品性に富み、真実の誓いに立ち、苦行で名高く、ヴェーダに通暁し、聖なる行いをなす者であった。私は彼らに牛、土地、黄金、住まいを与え、さらに馬や象、侍女を伴う婚期の娘たち、胡麻、銀、良き寝台、衣、宝石、家財、車乗を施した。加えてヴェーダの祭祀を修し、さまざまな公益の善行も行った。
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.