Shloka 44
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
शापो हायं भवतोअनुग्रहाय प्राप्तो मया यत्र दृष्टो यमो वै | दानव्युष्टिं तत्र दृष्टवा महात्मन् निःसंदिग्धान् दानधर्माश्चिरिष्ये
śāpo hāyaṃ bhavato'nugrahāya prāpto mayā yatra dṛṣṭo yamo vai | dānavyuṣṭiṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā mahātman niḥsaṃdigdhān dānadharmāś ciriṣye ||
महात्मन्! तुमच्याकडून मला जो शाप मिळाला, तो खरे तर माझ्यावरचा अनुग्रहच होता; त्याचमुळे मी यमलोकी जाऊन यमराजांना पाहिले. तेथे दानाचे फल प्रत्यक्ष पाहून आता मी निःसंशय दानधर्मांचे आचरण करीन.
नाचिकेत उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even what appears harmful (a curse) can become grace when it leads to direct moral insight; seeing the karmic fruit of generosity removes doubt and strengthens commitment to dāna-dharma.
Nāciketa tells a noble person that the curse he received proved beneficial because it enabled him to reach Yama’s realm and witness Yama and the tangible results of charity; he resolves to practice charitable duties with unwavering certainty.