Shloka 18
Go-apahāra (Cattle Theft), Go-dāna (Cow-Gift), and Suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā (Gold Fee): Karmic Consequence and Purificatory Merit
ब्राह्मण उवाच नराज्ञां प्रतिगृह्लामि शक्तो5हं स्वस्य मार्गणे सैव गौर्दीयतां शीघ्रं ममेति मधुसूदन
brāhmaṇa uvāca | na rājñāṃ pratigṛhṇāmi śakto 'haṃ svasya mārgaṇe | saiva gaur dīyatāṃ śīghraṃ mameti madhusūdana ||
O brâmane disse: “Ó Madhusūdana, não aceito dádivas de reis. Sou capaz de obter riqueza para meu próprio sustento. Portanto, devolve-me imediatamente aquela mesma vaca, que é minha.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint in accepting wealth: a principled person may refuse royal gifts if they compromise independence or propriety, preferring honest self-earned livelihood and insisting only on the return of what rightfully belongs to them.
A Brahmin addresses Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa), declaring that he will not accept donations from kings because he can provide for himself; he asks instead that his own cow be returned immediately.