Shloka 94
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
काल: परतरो दानाच्छुद्धा चैव ततः परा । स्वर्गद्वारं सुसूक्ष्मं हि नरै्मोहान्न दृश्यते
kālaḥ parataro dānāc chuddhā caiva tataḥ parā | svargadvāraṁ susūkṣmaṁ hi narair mohān na dṛśyate ||
Тесть сказал: «Дар, совершённый вовремя, превосходит даже само дарение; а чистота выше и этого. Врата небес чрезвычайно тонки — люди, ослеплённые привязанностью и смятением, не различают их».
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Merit is not measured only by the quantity of charity: giving at the right time is higher than mere giving, and inner purity (śuddhi of intention and conduct) is higher still. Spiritual attainment is subtle, and delusion (moha) prevents people from recognizing the true ‘gate to heaven’—the refined path of dharma.
A father-in-law figure instructs the listener on ethical hierarchy: timeliness surpasses simple donation, purity surpasses timeliness, and the path to heavenly reward is difficult to perceive because ordinary people are clouded by delusion.