Shloka 23
धन-निरुक्ति तथा गालवस्य गुरुदक्षिणा-प्रसङ्गः
Etymology of Wealth and the Gurudakṣiṇā Predicament of Gālava
तदागच्छ द्विजश्रेष्ठ मन्त्रयिष्याव गालव । नादत्त्वा गुरवे शक्यं कृत्स्नमर्थ त्वया55सितुम्,तदनन्तर दीन और अत्यन्त दुःखी हुए गालव मुनिसे गरुड़ने कहा--'द्विजश्रेष्ठ गालव! विश्वामित्रजीने मेरे सामने जो कुछ कहा है, आओ, उसके विषयमें हम दोनों सलाह करें। तुम्हें अपने गुरुको उनका सारा धन चुकाये बिना चुप नहीं बैठना चाहिये”
tadāgaccha dvijaśreṣṭha mantrayiṣyāva gālava | nādattvā gurave śakyaṃ kṛtsnam arthaṃ tvayā situm ||
नारद उवाच—“तदागच्छ द्विजश्रेष्ठ, मन्त्रयिष्याव गालव। नादत्त्वा गुरवे शक्यं त्वया कृत्स्नमर्थमशेषतः परिशोध्य शान्तिमवाप्तुम्; यावत् तदर्थं शेषं तावत् न ते मनः प्रशाम्यति।”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A solemn obligation to one’s teacher should not be left incomplete: until the guru’s due is paid, one should not seek personal comfort. The verse frames repayment (dakṣiṇā/ṛṇa) as a matter of dharma and inner integrity.
Nārada addresses Gālava respectfully and urges him to come and consult together. The immediate concern is Gālava’s inability to rest while his guru’s demanded wealth remains unpaid, prompting deliberation on how to fulfill that duty.