Adhyāya 60: Dāna vs. Yajña—Royal Giving, Protection, and Karmic Share
रहस्यमद्भुतं चैव शृणु वक्ष्यामि यत् त्वयि । या गति: प्राप्यते येन प्रेत्यभावे विशाम्पते
rahasyam adbhutaṃ caiva śṛṇu vakṣyāmi yat tvayi | yā gatiḥ prāpyate yena pretyabhāve viśāmpate ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا— اے رعایا کے سردار! سنو، میں تمہیں ایک عجیب و غریب راز بتاتا ہوں۔ سنو کہ موت کے بعد کون سے اعمال سے انسان کو کون سی گتی (منزل) حاصل ہوتی ہے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse introduces an esoteric ethical doctrine: specific actions (karma) lead to specific post-death destinies (gati). It frames the discussion as a ‘wondrous secret’ meant to guide conduct by linking moral causality with outcomes beyond this life.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a ruler (viśāmpati) and signals the start of an instructive section. He invites the listener to hear a confidential teaching explaining how different deeds determine the state one reaches after death.