Shloka 28
गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्
Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows
वेदाध्यायी गोषु यो भक्तिमांश्व नित्यं दत्त्वा योडभिनन्देत गाश्न । आजातितो यश्षु गवां नमेत इदं फलं शक्र निबोध तस्य
vedādhyāyī goṣu yo bhaktimān sa nityaṁ dattvā yo ’bhinandet gāś ca | ājātito yaś ca gavāṁ nameta idaṁ phalaṁ śakra nibodha tasya, indra ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Śakra, o Indra—erkenne die Frucht, die jenem zuteilwird, der die Veden studiert, den Kühen in Hingabe zugetan ist und, indem er regelmäßig Kühe verschenkt, sich an der Gabe erfreut; der von Geburt an vor den Kühen sich verneigt. Höre nun die Belohnung, die ein Leben in disziplinierter Gabe, Verehrung und heiligem Studium bringt.“
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises a dharmic life that unites sacred learning (Veda-study), disciplined generosity (regular gifting of cows), and heartfelt reverence (bowing to cows from birth). Merit is not only in the act of giving but also in the inner disposition—devotion and joy in charity.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and the fruits of various vows and gifts. Here he addresses Indra (Śakra), introducing the reward (phala) that accrues to a person devoted to cows and committed to Vedic study and regular go-dāna.