Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 24
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
शुक्र उवाच वृथामांसं समश्नातु दिवा गच्छतु मैथुनम् । प्रेष्यो भवतु राज्ञश्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्
śukra uvāca vṛthā-māṁsaṁ samaśnātu divā gacchatu maithunam | preṣyo bhavatu rājñaś ca yas te harati puṣkaram ||
舒克罗说道：“凡盗取你莲花之人，愿其招致这些卑辱的报应：无端食肉；白昼行淫；并沦为王者的卑役。”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys that theft and violation of another’s rightful possession invite moral and social degradation; the ‘punishments’ are framed as shameful modes of life—wanton consumption, improper sexuality, and servile dependence—signaling a fall from dharmic conduct.
Śukra pronounces an imprecatory statement against an unnamed offender: whoever stole ‘your lotus’ is condemned to certain disreputable conditions, functioning as a curse meant to mark and diminish the wrongdoer.