Shloka 37
Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode
त्रैलोक्यस्यापि दानेन न शुद्ध्येत ऋणात्सुतः । किं पुनर्देहवित्ताभ्यां केशदानादिभिर्विभो ॥ ३७ ॥
trailokyasyāpi dānena na śuddhyeta ṛṇātsutaḥ | kiṃ punardehavittābhyāṃ keśadānādibhirvibho || 37 ||
மூன்று உலகங்களின் செல்வத்தைத் தானமாக அளித்தாலும் கடனில் பிறந்த மகன் சுத்தியடையான்; அப்படியிருக்க, ஹே விபோ, உடல்-செல்வத் தானங்கள்—கேசதானம் முதலியவை—என்ன பயன் தரும்?
Narada (teaching within a Dharma/Tirtha-oriented discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
The verse stresses that deep moral obligations—especially debt and its karmic burden—are not erased by outward charity or symbolic austerities; true purification requires responsible discharge of obligations and righteous conduct.
By downplaying merely external acts (like hair-donation), it implicitly prioritizes inner integrity and dharmic responsibility—qualities that make devotion sincere rather than transactional.
It points to Dharma-śāstra style reasoning: ritual substitutions (minor gifts or bodily offerings) cannot override binding obligations like ṛṇa; practical conduct and ethical duty are treated as foundational to religious life.