CHARUCHARYA Part V

 

मातरं पितरं भक्त्या तोषयेन्न प्रकोपयेत्‌ । मातृशापेन नागानां सर्पसत्रेऽभवत्‌ क्षयः ॥ १६ ॥

Mātaraṃ pitaraṃ bhaktyā toṣayen na prakopayet |

Mātṛśāpena nāgānāṃ sarpasatre’bhavat kṣayaḥ || 16 ||

Translation:
          “One should please one’s mother and father with devotion and should never anger them. Because of a mother’s curse, the serpents were destroyed in the Sarpa-sacrifice.”

This verse stresses the supreme importance of respecting parents. Parental blessings bring welfare, while their anger can lead to destruction. The story of the Sarpa-satra shows how even mighty serpents were annihilated due to a mother’s curse, proving that parental displeasure has grave consequences.

जराग्रहणतुष्टेन निजयौवनदः सुतः। कृतः कनीयान्‌ प्रणतश्चक्रवतीं ययातिना ॥ १७ ॥

Jarāgrahaṇa-tuṣṭena nija-yauvana-daḥ sutaḥ |

Kṛtaḥ kanīyān praṇataś cakravartīṃ Yayātinā || 17 ||

Translation:
          “Pleased with the humble youngest son who gave his youth and took upon himself his father’s old age, King Yayāti made him a universal emperor.”

This verse highlights filial devotion and self-sacrifice. Puru willingly accepted his father Yayāti’s old age and gave him his youth. Impressed by such obedience and humility, Yayāti crowned Puru a Chakravartin, showing that true service to parents brings great rewards.

दानं सत्त्वमितं दद्यान्न पश्वात्तापदूषितम्‌ । बलिनात्मार्पितो बन्धे दानशेषस्य शुद्धये ॥ १८ ॥

Dānaṃ sattvamitaṃ dadyān na paścāt-tāpa-dūṣitam |
Balinātmārpito bandhe dānaśeṣasya śuddhaye || 18 ||

Translation:
          “Charity should be given with a pure and noble mind, not tainted by later regret. Bali offered himself into bondage to purify the remainder of his gift.”

True charity must be wholehearted and free from remorse. King Bali’s self-surrender to Vāmana shows that genuine giving requires inner purity, even at personal cost.

 त्यागे सत्त्वनिधिः कुर्यान्न प्रत्युपकृतिस्पृहाम्‌ ।  कर्णः कुण्डलदानेऽभूत्‌ खलु शक्तियाञ्छया ॥ १९ ॥

Tyāge sattva-nidhiḥ kuryān na pratyupakṛti-spṛhām |
Karṇaḥ kuṇḍala-dāne’bhūt kalu śaktyāñchayā || 19 ||

Translation:
          “A virtuous person should renounce without expecting anything in return. Karṇa gave his earrings to Indra, but by asking for the divine weapon, his charity became tainted.”

This verse teaches selfless renunciation. Karṇa’s generosity was great, but his expectation of reward diminished its purity. True sacrifice demands complete detachment.

 ब्राह्मणान्नावमन्येत ब्रह्मशापो हि दुःसहः । तक्षकाग्नौ ब्रह्मशापात्‌ परीक्षिदगमत्‌ क्षयम्‌ ॥ २० ॥

Brāhmaṇān nāvamanyeta brahma-śāpo hi duḥsahaḥ |
Takṣakāgnau brahma-śāpāt Parīkṣid agamat kṣayam || 20 ||

Translation:
          “One should never insult a Brāhmaṇa, for a Brāhmaṇa’s curse is unbearable. Because of such a curse, King Parīkṣit met his end through the serpent Takṣaka.”

This verse warns against disrespecting spiritual authorities. King Parīkṣit’s death illustrates how arrogance toward sages leads to ruin. Reverence and humility safeguard one from downfall.