Shloka 38
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
हैमानीमानि जानीम: प्रतिबुद्धा: सम जागृूम । इह होतदुपादत्तं प्रेत्य स्पात् कटुकोदयम् । अप्रतिग्राह्ममेवैतत् प्रेत्पेह च सुखेप्सुना
haimānīmāni jānīmaḥ pratibuddhāḥ sama jāgṛmaḥ | iha hotadupādattaṃ pretya syāt kaṭukodayam | apratigrahyaṃ evaitat pretyeha ca sukhepsunā ||
毗湿摩说：“我们知道其内为金。我们全然清醒、警觉，理解并未昏暗。我们明知这些果实之中藏有黄金。若在此时此地受取，死后其果必苦涩成熟。因此，欲求今世与来世安乐幸福者，此物断不可作为赠礼而受。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even if a gift is materially valuable, it should be refused when it is ethically tainted or improperly offered; accepting such wealth brings a bitter karmic consequence, harming welfare in both this life and the next.
In the episode referenced, sages discern that seemingly ordinary fruits conceal gold. They declare themselves fully aware and refuse to accept them, warning that taking such a gift would lead to painful results after death; thus it is deemed ‘not acceptable’ for one seeking true happiness.