Shloka 173
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
सर्वं च नाशयेत्क्षिप्रं कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति । दशयोजनविस्तीर्णा महापारा महानदी
sarvaṃ ca nāśayetkṣipraṃ kapilāṃ yaḥ prayacchati | daśayojanavistīrṇā mahāpārā mahānadī
All dies wird rasch vernichtet durch den, der unverzüglich eine kapilā-Kuh spendet. Es gibt einen großen Fluss, zehn Yojanas breit, mit weit ausladenden Ufern.
Unspecified (context-dependent narration within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; likely a Purāṇic narrator continuing a dialogue)
Concept: Prompt kapilā-dāna is presented as a swift destroyer of accumulated sins; the imagery of a vast river underscores the magnitude of karmic consequence and the need for timely remedial action.
Application: Do not delay restitution and charity when conscience signals wrongdoing; act promptly, repair harm, and adopt ongoing disciplines (truthfulness, restraint) so the ‘river’ of consequences is not fed further.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal, dark river stretches across the horizon, ten yojanas wide, its waves shaped like shadowy faces of past misdeeds; the far bank glimmers with a calm, golden light. In the foreground, a donor releases a garlanded kapilā cow toward a brāhmaṇa, and from the cow’s hooves a radiant causeway of light forms across the waters, dissolving the darkness into mist.","primary_figures":["kapilā cow","donor (gṛhastha)","brāhmaṇa recipient","personified river (as a vast dark presence)"],"setting":"mythic riverbank with steep, expansive shores; distant luminous opposite bank","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["inky black","river-silver","tawny gold","pale turquoise","sunrise amber"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic riverbank scene with a massive dark river rendered in stylized waves, kapilā cow glowing in the center with gold leaf highlights, donor and brāhmaṇa in iconic poses, a gold causeway forming across the water, ornate border and arch, rich reds and greens in garments, heavy gold embellishment for the ‘sin-dissolving’ radiance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: panoramic river landscape with delicate wave patterns, moonlit sky, luminous tawny cow creating a subtle bridge of light, refined figures on the bank, distant golden shore with soft haze, cool blues contrasted with warm ochres.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized giant river with rhythmic wave motifs, kapilā cow in warm ochre with bright highlights, symmetrical composition of donor and brāhmaṇa, strong contrast between dark river and golden opposite bank, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central kapilā cow as a sacred axis, river depicted as patterned indigo waves with gold dots, lotus borders and floral frames, a luminous path across the water, deep blues and gold with peacock accents near the bank, devotional symbolism over realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["roaring water","conch shell","low drum","wind over a wide river"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाशयेत्क्षिप्रम् = नाशयेत् + क्षिप्रम्; श्लोकपादे ‘दशयोजनविस्तीर्णा’ समास/संयोगरूपेण लिखितम्।
FAQs
It states that donating a kapilā (tawny) cow quickly destroys all sins/impurities, presenting go-dāna as a powerful act of religious merit (puṇya) and expiation (prāyaścitta).
It introduces a “great river” described as ten yojanas wide with vast banks, a Purāṇic style of mapping sacred landscapes through grand, symbolic geographical markers.
The verse highlights generosity and timely giving—especially charitable gifting (dāna)—as a direct means of moral purification and religious responsibility.