Shloka 14

हिरण्यपुरवर्णनम्

Description of Hiraṇyapura and the Nivātakavacas

Devanagari script

यत्रतत्रशयो नित्यं येन केनचिदाशित: । येन केनचिदाच्छन्न: स गोव्रत इहोच्यते,जो जहाँ कहीं भी सो लेता है, जिस किसी फल-मूल आदिसे भोजनका कार्य चला लेता है तथा वल्कल आदि जिस किसी वस्तुसे भी शरीरको ढक लेता है, वही यहाँ 'गोव्रतधारी” कहलाता है

Transliteration

yatratatraśayo nityaṁ yena kenacid āśitaḥ | yena kenacid ācchannaḥ sa govrata iho cyate ||

Translation

Nārada sprach: „Wer gewohnheitsmäßig dort niederliegt, wo immer er sich gerade befindet, wer sich von jeder Speise erhält, die er zu erlangen vermag, und wer seinen Leib mit dem bedeckt, was gerade verfügbar ist—der wird hier als einer beschrieben, der das ‘govrata’ (das Gelübde, wie eine Kuh zu leben) beobachtet, gekennzeichnet durch Schlichtheit, Nicht-Anhaften und Genügsamkeit.“

Word by Word

यत्रwhere

तत्रthere

शयःone who lies down/sleeps

नित्यम्always

येनby/with which (whatever)

केनचित्by/with something or other

आशितःhaving eaten; fed

येनby/with which (whatever)

केनचित्by/with something or other

आच्छन्नःcovered/clad

सःhe

गोव्रतीone observing the 'cow-vow' (go-vrata)

इहhere (in this context)

उच्यतेis called

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

govrata

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines ‘govrata’ as a discipline of radical simplicity: resting wherever one is, eating whatever is obtainable, and wearing whatever covering is available. Ethically, it trains non-attachment, endurance, and contentment, reducing dependence on comfort and choice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is explaining a specific type of vrata (vow/observance) by giving its practical marks. The focus is descriptive—identifying who qualifies as a govrata-observer through conduct rather than lineage or status.