Mahabharata Udyoga Parva – गॊप्रदान सहस्राणि दविजेभ्यॊ ऽदान नृगॊ नृपः

Shloka (श्लोक)

गॊप्रदान सहस्राणि दविजेभ्यॊ ऽदान नृगॊ नृपः
एकां दत्त्वा स पारक्यां नरकं समवाप्तवान

⚡ Quick Meaning

A king who gives away thousands of cows to brahmins but retains one for himself ultimately faces the consequences of his actions.

Translations

English Translation

A ruler who donates numerous cows to religious scholars can still incur sin by hoarding just one cow. The act symbolizes that even a minor selfish act outweighs grand gestures of generosity if the intent isn’t pure.

हिंदी अनुवाद

राजा जो हजारों गायें ब्राह्मणों को दान देते हैं, लेकिन एक गाय अपने पास रखते हैं, उसे अपने कर्मों का फल भुगतना पड़ता है। यह घोषणा करता है कि यदि इरादा शुद्ध नहीं है, तो छोटे स्वार्थपूर्ण कार्य भी दान के बड़े कार्यों से भारी हो सकते हैं।

Commentary

Context

This verse illustrates the importance of selflessness over mere symbolic generosity in the context of dharma.

Meaning

A single selfish possession can tarnish the righteousness of even the grandest charitable acts, highlighting the need for absolute selflessness.

Application

When giving, ensure that generosity is impartial and devoid of any attachment or expectation of reward to truly embody selfless service.