Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15
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
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ໃຫ້ກຽດແກ່ພຣາຫມັນຜູ້ຮັບທານກ່ອນ ໂດຍປະດັບດ້ວຍເຄື່ອງອາພອນອັນງາມ ພວກເຂົາເປັນດວິຊະຜູ້ປະເສີດ ຍັງໜຸ່ມ ຄອບຄົວຂັດສົນ ມີຄຸນທໍາ ຍຶດສັດຈະ ມີຊື່ສຽງໃນຕະປະ ຮູ້ພຣະເວດ ແລະປະພຶດດີ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ມອບງົວ ທີ່ດິນ ຄໍາ ເຮືອນ ມ້າ ຊ້າງ ສາວທີ່ເໝາະແຕ່ງງານພ້ອມຄົນໃຊ້ ງາ ເງິນ ຕຽງດີ ເສື້ອຜ້າ ເພັດພອຍ ເຄື່ອງໃຊ້ ແລະລົດ ພ້ອມທັງປະກອບຍັດຍະ ແລະກິດກຸສົນເພື່ອສາທາລະນະ
FAQs
This verse praises giving to exemplary brāhmaṇas—truthful, disciplined, learned, saintly, and in genuine need—showing that dāna should be guided by character and dharma, not mere display.
Because the recipients of sacred charity are ideally those who uphold satya, vrata, tapaḥ, and śruta—qualities that preserve spiritual culture and ensure that gifts support dharma.
Give thoughtfully to people and institutions that demonstrate integrity, spiritual discipline, and genuine service—especially where there is real hardship—rather than giving only for reputation.