Shloka 23
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
पूर्वं त्वमशुभं भुङ्क्ष उताहो नृपते शुभम् । नान्तं दानस्य धर्मस्य पश्ये लोकस्य भास्वत: ॥ २३ ॥
pūrvaṁ tvam aśubhaṁ bhuṅkṣa utāho nṛpate śubham nāntaṁ dānasya dharmasya paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ
[യമരാജൻ പറഞ്ഞു:] ഹേ രാജാവേ, ആദ്യം നീ പാപഫലമോ പുണ്യഫലമോ അനുഭവിക്കണമെന്നു ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു? നിന്റെ ദാനധർമ്മത്തിന് അവസാനം ഞാൻ കാണുന്നില്ല; അതിനാൽ ദീപ്തമായ സ്വർഗ്ഗലോകങ്ങളിലെ നിന്റെ ഭോഗവും അളവറ്റതാണ്।
FAQs
This verse highlights that the dharma (religious merit) produced by charity can be so vast that its limit is difficult to perceive—implying profound, long-reaching auspicious results.
In the Syamantaka-jewel narrative, Kṛṣṇa points the listener toward karmic causality—how one’s past actions yield present fortune or suffering—and emphasizes charity as a powerful source of merit.
Practice regular, sincere giving—supporting devotees, temples, spiritual education, and those in need—while keeping the intention pure, seeing charity as dharma that refines the heart.