Shloka 23
Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)
तत् सम्प्राप्य गृहस्था ये पशुधान्यधनान्विता: । न यजन्ते महाराज शाश्रचतं तेषु किल्बिषम्
tat samprāpya gṛhasthā ye paśudhānyadhanānvitāḥ | na yajante mahārāja śāśvataṁ teṣu kilbiṣam ||
ಮಹಾರಾಜನೇ! ಗೃಹಸ್ಥರು ಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು ಪಶು, ಧಾನ್ಯ, ಧನಗಳಿಂದ ಸಂಪನ್ನರಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಯಜ್ಞವನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸದೆ ಇದ್ದರೆ, ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ದೋಷ—ಪಾಪಕಲಂಕ—ನಿಂತಿರುತ್ತದೆ.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prosperity brings obligation: a householder who has gained resources (cattle, grain, wealth) should uphold dharma through yajña—understood as sacrificial duty, offering, and responsible giving; neglecting this incurs lasting moral fault (kilbiṣa).
Nakula addresses the king and states a normative rule of conduct for householders: once they attain material means, they should perform yajña; failure to do so is described as an enduring ethical blemish.