Shloka 9

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

यावद्वत्सस्य द्वौ पादौ मुखं योन्यां प्रदृश्यते / तावद्गौः पृथिवी ज्ञेया यावद्गर्भं न मुञ्चति

Transliteration

yāvadvatsasya dvau pādau mukhaṃ yonyāṃ pradṛśyate / tāvadgauḥ pṛthivī jñeyā yāvadgarbhaṃ na muñcati

Translation

Solange im Mutterleib die beiden Beine und das Gesicht des Kalbes zu sehen sind, solange soll die Kuh als die Erde selbst erkannt werden—bis sie die Leibesfrucht freigibt.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-निर्देशक-अव्यय (as long as/until)

• वत्सस्य: of the calf
• वत्सस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; पादौ विशेषयति

• पादौ: feet
• पादौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• योन्याम्: in the womb
• योन्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• प्रदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• प्रदृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is seen/appears')

• तावत्: so long
• तावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तावदर्थक-अव्यय (so long/that long)

• गौः: the cow
• गौः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate nominative)

• ज्ञेया: should be known (as)
• ज्ञेया: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be known/considered'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; गौः इति कर्तृसापेक्षम्

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-निर्देशक-अव्यय (until/as long as)

• गर्भम्: the fetus
• गर्भम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• मुञ्चति: releases/lets go (gives birth)
• मुञ्चति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: During visible stages of gestation, the cow is to be revered as Earth itself—implying heightened non-harm and care until delivery.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing the universal in the particular (sarva-bhūta-ātma-bhāva as ethical vision); dharmic reverence for life-bearing power (śakti).

Application: Protect pregnant animals/humans with special care; avoid stress, overwork, and harm; treat caregivers and life-support systems (land, ecology) as sacred trusts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral/household cowshed; symbolic cosmic mapping

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98 (cow sanctity and rules around gifting/care)

Characters & Entities

• Gauḥ (cow)
• Pṛthivī (Earth)
• Vatsa (calf)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting a pregnant cow in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates the pregnant cow to the status of Pṛthivī (Earth) herself, implying heightened reverence and strict avoidance of harm until delivery.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports dharma through ahiṃsā: actions that protect life and avoid cruelty are treated as righteous conduct, shaping karmic outcomes central to Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice non-violence and compassionate care toward pregnant animals (especially cows), avoiding exploitation or harm and supporting ethical husbandry and protection.