Shloka 19

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

अनुनीतावुभौ विप्रौ धर्मकृच्छ्रगतेन वै । गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥ भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानत: । समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

anunītāv ubhau viprau dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām

Translation

เมื่อข้าพเจ้าตกอยู่ในทางตันแห่งธรรมอันน่ากลัว จึงนอบน้อมวิงวอนพราหมณ์ทั้งสองว่า “เพื่อแลกกับวัวตัวนี้ ข้าพเจ้าจะมอบวัวชั้นเลิศหนึ่งแสนตัว; โปรดคืนวัวนี้แก่ข้าพเจ้าเถิด ข้าพเจ้าเป็นเพียงผู้รับใช้ผู้ไม่รู้ ขอท่านเมตตาและช่วยกู้ข้าพเจ้าจากความลำบากนี้ มิฉะนั้นข้าพเจ้าจะตกสู่นรกอันโสโครก”

Synonyms

अनुनीतौhaving been entreated/conciliated

उभौboth

विप्रौtwo brāhmaṇas

धर्म-कृच्छ्र-गतेनby (me) who had fallen into a dharma-dilemma

वैindeed

गवाम्of cows

लक्षम्a lakh (100,000)

प्रकृष्टानाम्of excellent (cows)

दास्यामिI will give

एषाthis (cow)

प्रदीयताम्let (her) be given/handed over

Characters & Entities

Brāhmaṇas (two)

Kṛṣṇa (context of the episode)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about atonement (prāyaścitta) when one harms or offends brāhmaṇas?

This verse highlights sincere contrition and practical restitution—seeking forgiveness and offering appropriate charity—as a dharmic response to wrongdoing.

Why does the speaker offer one hundred thousand cows in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.64?

Because cows are a foremost form of dharmic charity, and the speaker seeks to rectify a serious moral breach by offering an extraordinary, honorable compensation to the brāhmaṇas.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

When you cause harm, acknowledge it without excuses, ask forgiveness respectfully, and make concrete restitution—time, resources, or service—in proportion to the damage.