The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
गृह्णन्ति यावत: पांशून् क्रन्दतामश्रुबिन्दव: । विप्राणां हृतवृत्तीनां वदान्यानां कुटुम्बिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥ राजानो राजकुल्याश्च तावतोऽब्दान्निरङ्कुशा: । कुम्भीपाकेषु पच्यन्ते ब्रह्मदायापहारिण: ॥ ३८ ॥
gṛhṇanti yāvataḥ pāṁśūn krandatām aśru-bindavaḥ viprāṇāṁ hṛta-vṛttīnām vadānyānāṁ kuṭumbinām
ตราบเท่าจำนวนปีเท่ากับเม็ดฝุ่นที่ถูกหยดน้ำตาของพราหมณ์ผู้ใจกว้าง ผู้มีครอบครัวพึ่งพาและถูกปล้นทรัพย์สัมผัส กษัตริย์ผู้ไร้การยับยั้งที่แย่งทรัพย์ของพราหมณ์ พร้อมราชวงศ์ จะถูกต้มทรมานในนรกกุมภีปากะ
This verse warns that when brāhmaṇas’ rightful livelihood is taken, the rulers who enable such injustice incur severe karmic consequences; even their temporary worldly freedom is measured against the suffering they cause.
He highlights dharma: rulers must protect the pious and never exploit brāhmaṇas. The narrative uses this moral lens to show that offenses against sacred trust bring heavy reactions.
Do not exploit spiritual teachers, religious institutions, or honest livelihoods; support dharmic education and charity, and avoid benefiting from systems that deprive the righteous of their due.