Shloka 28
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
नहुष उवाच अतिथिर्ग॑हसंस्थो<स्तु कामवृत्तस्तु दीक्षित: । विद्यां प्रयच्छतु भूतो यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
Nahuṣa uvāca: atithir gṛha-saṁstho 'stu kāma-vṛttaḥ tu dīkṣitaḥ | vidyāṁ prayacchatu bhūto yas te harati puṣkaram ||
नहुष म्हणाला—ज्याने तुझे कमळ पळविले, तो संन्यासी असूनही घरात राहो; यज्ञदीक्षा घेऊनही इच्छाचारी होवो आणि वेतन घेऊन विद्या शिकवो—म्हणजे या सर्व पापफळांचा भागी होवो.
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns hypocrisy: adopting revered religious or social statuses (guest, consecrated sacrificer, teacher) while violating their ethical restraints. Such role-playing without inner discipline is treated as sinful and brings negative karmic consequence.
Nahuṣa pronounces an imprecatory wish/curse against the person who stole the other party’s lotus-flowers, invoking ironic punishments: the thief should bear the taint of living as a house-dwelling ‘guest,’ a desire-driven ‘initiated’ votary, and a wage-taking teacher—figures seen here as corruptions of dharma.