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Shloka 50

गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्

Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows

तृणगोमयपर्णाशी निःस्पूृहो नियत: शुचि: । अकामं तेन वस्तव्यं मुदितेन शतक्रतो

tṛṇa-gomaya-parṇāśī niḥspṛho niyataḥ śuciḥ | akāmaṃ tena vastavyaṃ muditena śatakrato ||

قال بهيشما: «فليعش قانعًا، يا شتاكرتو، آكلًا العشب وروث البقر والأوراق—خاليًا من الشهوة، ضابطًا لنفسه، طاهرًا. فإذا أقام هكذا بلا رغبة بلغ عالمي وعاش مبتهجًا بين الآلهة؛ وإلا مضى إلى العوالم التي يشاء.»

तृणगोमयपर्णाशीone who eats grass, cow-dung, and leaves
तृणगोमयपर्णाशी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतृण + गोमय + पर्ण + आशिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निःस्पृहःdesireless, free from longing
निःस्पृहः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिःस्पृह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नियतःrestrained, disciplined
नियतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनियत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शुचिःpure, clean
शुचिः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अकामम्without desire; desirelessly
अकामम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअकाम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तेनby him / by that (manner)
तेन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
वस्तव्यम्is to be dwelt (one should dwell)
वस्तव्यम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootवस् (वसँ निवासे)
Formतव्यत् (gerundive), Passive sense (obligation), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
मुदितेनwith joy; by the joyful (one)
मुदितेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमुदित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
शतक्रतोO Śatakratu (Indra, 'of a hundred rites')
शतक्रतो:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootशतक्रतु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

पितामह उवाच

B
Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)
I
Indra (Śatakratu)
C
cows (gauḥ)
B
Bhīṣma’s world (my loka)
G
gods (devatāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse praises an austere, disciplined, and desireless life—marked by contentment, purity, and freedom from craving—as a path to exalted post-mortem states (Bhīṣma’s world/realms of the gods) and even the freedom to reach desired worlds.

Bhīṣma addresses Indra (Śatakratu) while describing the spiritual reward of a forest-dweller who follows the prescribed ascetic rule—living simply on grass, leaves, and cow-dung, remaining self-restrained and pure—thereby attaining divine realms.