Shloka 34
Vidura’s Questions: How the Unchangeable Lord Relates to Māyā; Bhakti as the Remedy; Blueprint for the Coming Cosmology
दानस्य तपसो वापि यच्चेष्टापूर्तयो: फलम् । प्रवासस्थस्य यो धर्मो यश्च पुंस उतापदि ॥ ३४ ॥
dānasya tapaso vāpi yac ceṣṭā-pūrtayoḥ phalam pravāsa-sthasya yo dharmo yaś ca puṁsa utāpadi
ਦਾਨ, ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ਼ਟਾਪੂਰਤ (ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਹੌਦ ਖੋਦਣਾ ਆਦਿ) ਦੇ ਫਲ, ਅਤੇ ਘਰ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਦੀ ਧਰਮ-ਸਥਿਤੀ, ਤੇ ਮੁਸੀਬਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਏ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਕਰਤੱਵ ਵੀ ਦੱਸੋ।
The digging of reservoirs of water for public use is a great work of charity, and retiring from family life after fifty years of age is a great act of penance performed by the sober human being.
FAQs
In this verse Vidura asks Maitreya to explain the specific “phala” (results) of dāna (charity) and tapas (austerity), indicating that the Bhagavatam treats these acts as meaningful when understood in relation to dharma and higher spiritual purpose.
Because Vidura is systematically inquiring into practical dharma for different life-situations—ordinary duty, duty during travel/exile, and duty during crisis—so that spiritual life is guided even under changing external conditions.
Maintain integrity and devotion-centered priorities during disruption: continue essential responsibilities, avoid impulsive sinful choices in stress, and use hardship to deepen steadiness (tapas) and generosity (dāna) rather than resentment.