Shloka 19
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
अनुनीतावुभौ विप्रौ धर्मकृच्छ्रगतेन वै । गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥ भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानत: । समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥
anunītāv ubhau viprau dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām
Terperangkap dalam dilema dharma yang berat, aku merayu dengan rendah hati kepada kedua-dua brāhmaṇa: “Sebagai ganti lembu ini, aku akan memberikan seratus ribu lembu terbaik; mohon pulangkan lembu ini kepadaku. Aku hanyalah hamba yang jahil; kasihanilah aku dan selamatkan aku daripada kesukaran ini, jika tidak aku pasti jatuh ke neraka yang kotor.”
FAQs
This verse highlights sincere contrition and practical restitution—seeking forgiveness and offering appropriate charity—as a dharmic response to wrongdoing.
Because cows are a foremost form of dharmic charity, and the speaker seeks to rectify a serious moral breach by offering an extraordinary, honorable compensation to the brāhmaṇas.
When you cause harm, acknowledge it without excuses, ask forgiveness respectfully, and make concrete restitution—time, resources, or service—in proportion to the damage.