Shloka 55
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
गुरुं शिष्यो वरयेद् गोप्रदाने स वै गन्ता नियतं स्वर्गमेव । विधिज्ञानां सुमहान् धर्म एष विधिं ह्याद्यं विधय: संविशन्ति
guruṁ śiṣyo varayed gopradāne sa vai gantā niyataṁ svargam eva | vidhijñānāṁ sumahān dharma eṣa vidhiṁ hy ādyaṁ vidhayaḥ saṁviśanti ||
ナチケータスは言った。「弟子が牛を施そうとする時には、それを受けるにふさわしい師を選ぶべきである。師がその牛の施与を受け取るなら、弟子は必ず天界に至る。聖なる行いの規則を知る者にとって、この牛施はきわめて大いなるダルマであり、まことに他の定められた諸儀礼はすべて、この根源の規定のうちに収まるのである。」
नाचिकेत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that charity is not merely the act of giving but also the discernment of a worthy recipient: a disciple should select a proper guru for the cow-gift, and the guru’s acceptance completes the rite, yielding great merit—so great that other ritual injunctions are said to be encompassed within this foundational act.
Naciketas is speaking about dharma and ritual propriety, explaining the correct procedure and spiritual consequence of gopradāna (cow-donation): the disciple chooses a guru to receive it; if the guru accepts, the disciple is assured heavenly attainment, and the act is praised as a principal ordinance among rites.