Shloka 19

Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)

Devanagari script

उपानहौ च छत्रं च कपिला च यथातथम्‌ । पुष्करे कपिला देया ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे

Transliteration

upānahau ca chatraṃ ca kapilā ca yathātatham | puṣkare kapilā deyā brāhmaṇe vedapārage ||

Translation

Yama sprach: „Man soll Sandalen und einen Schirm spenden und ebenso, wie es sich ziemt, eine falbe (kapilā) Kuh. In Puṣkara ist eine kapilā‑Kuh einem Brahmanen zu schenken, der die Veden gemeistert hat.“

Word by Word

• उपानहौ: a pair of sandals
• उपानहौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानह् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• छत्रम्: umbrella
• छत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कपिला: a tawny (cow)
• कपिला: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यथा: as / according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• तथम्: so / in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथम्

• पुष्करे: at Pushkara (holy place)
• पुष्करे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कपिला: a tawny cow
• कपिला: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• देया: to be given / should be given
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणे: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• वेदपारगे: in/for one who has mastered the Veda
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदपारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Puṣkara
• Brāhmaṇa (vedapāraga)
• upānah (sandals)
• chatra (umbrella)
• kapilā gauḥ (tawny cow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity should be done with discernment: give useful, protective items (sandals, umbrella) and a meritorious gift (a kapilā cow), especially at a sacred place like Puṣkara, and to a truly qualified recipient—a Brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Yama’s discourse on dharma and the fruits of righteous conduct, he prescribes specific forms of dāna and specifies the auspicious setting (Puṣkara) and the worthy recipient (a Veda-master), indicating how context and eligibility shape the ethical and spiritual value of giving.