समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः
Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing
कृते च प्रतिकर्तव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः।सोऽयं त्वत्प्रतिकारार्थी त्वत्तः सम्मानमर्हति।।5.1.114।।
kṛte ca pratikartavyam eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | so ’yaṁ tvat-pratikārārthī tvattaḥ sammānam arhati ||
«Quando se faz um benefício, deve-se retribuí-lo: este é o dharma eterno. Assim, ele, desejoso de retribuir-te, é digno de receber de ti honra.»
Pratikāra (reciprocation) rooted in satya and gratitude: acknowledging and repaying help is presented as timeless moral law.
Maināka justifies the ocean’s gesture: it is proper to accept honor offered as repayment for past benefit.
Kṛtajñatā and dhārmika conduct: the insistence that moral debts should be recognized and answered.