Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20
The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property
अनुनीतावुभौ विप्रौ धर्मकृच्छ्रगतेन वै । गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥ भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानत: । समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥
anunītāv ubhau viprau dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām
Nang mapunta ako sa matinding suliranin ng dharma, mapagpakumbaba kong nakiusap sa dalawang brāhmaṇa: “Kapalit ng bakang ito, magbibigay ako ng isang daang libong pinakamahuhusay na baka; pakibalik ito sa akin. Ako’y inyong aliping mangmang; mahabag kayo at iligtas ako sa hirap na ito, kung hindi’y mahuhulog ako sa maruming impiyerno.”
FAQs
This verse shows a person in a dharmic crisis offering substantial charity—excellent cows—as a form of appeasement and attempted atonement.
He was caught in a serious moral predicament and tried to pacify the brāhmaṇas by offering an immense gift, seeking relief from the consequences of his wrongdoing.
When one causes harm or acts wrongly, sincere restitution—paired with humility and responsibility—matters; mere excuses are not enough.