Shloka 37
Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode
त्रैलोक्यस्यापि दानेन न शुद्ध्येत ऋणात्सुतः । किं पुनर्देहवित्ताभ्यां केशदानादिभिर्विभो ॥ ३७ ॥
trailokyasyāpi dānena na śuddhyeta ṛṇātsutaḥ | kiṃ punardehavittābhyāṃ keśadānādibhirvibho || 37 ||
ਤਿੰਨਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਦੌਲਤ ਦਾਨ ਕਰ ਦੇਣ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਮਿਆ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ; ਫਿਰ ਹੇ ਵਿਭੋ, ਦੇਹ ਜਾਂ ਧਨ ਦੇ ਦਾਨ—ਕੇਸ਼ਦਾਨ ਆਦਿ—ਨਾਲ ਕਿਹੜੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਸ਼ੁੱਧੀ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ?
Narada (teaching within a Dharma/Tirtha-oriented discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
The verse stresses that deep moral obligations—especially debt and its karmic burden—are not erased by outward charity or symbolic austerities; true purification requires responsible discharge of obligations and righteous conduct.
By downplaying merely external acts (like hair-donation), it implicitly prioritizes inner integrity and dharmic responsibility—qualities that make devotion sincere rather than transactional.
It points to Dharma-śāstra style reasoning: ritual substitutions (minor gifts or bodily offerings) cannot override binding obligations like ṛṇa; practical conduct and ethical duty are treated as foundational to religious life.