Shloka 41
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
तिलालाभे तु यो दद्याज्जलधेनुं यतव्रत: । स कामप्रवहां शीतां नदीमेतामुपाश्ुते
tilālābhe tu yo dadyāj jaladhenuṃ yatavrataḥ | sa kāmapravahāṃ śītāṃ nadīm etām upāśnute ||
Но когда нет кунжута, тот, кто, соблюдая обеты и воздержание, дарует «водяную корову» (символический дар воды в образе коровы), обретает близость к этой прохладной реке, несущей желанные блага, живёт у неё и вкушает благой плод милостыни.
नाचिकेत उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a standard offering (here, sesame) is unavailable, one should still uphold dharma through an appropriate substitute gift—given with discipline and vow-observance. Such sincere charity bears a fitting reward, symbolized by access to a cool, wish-fulfilling river.
Nāciketa describes the merit (phala) of a specific charitable act: donating a jaladhenu. The verse presents this act as leading the donor to a pleasant, cool river that ‘brings’ desired enjoyments—an imagistic way of stating the auspicious results of dharmic giving.