Shloka 13

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

पयस्विनीस्तरुणी: शीलरूप- गुणोपपन्ना: कपिला हेमश‍ृङ्गी: । न्यायार्जिता रूप्यखुरा: सवत्सा दुकूलमालाभरणा ददावहम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

payasvinīs taruṇīḥ śīla-rūpa- guṇopapannāḥ kapilā hema-sṛṅgīḥ nyāyārjitā rūpya-khurāḥ sa-vatsā dukūla-mālābharaṇā dadāv aham

Translation

I gave in charity young brown cows, brimming with milk—gentle in conduct, beautiful and rich in good qualities—honestly acquired, with gilded horns and silvered hooves, adorned with fine cloth, garlands and ornaments, and given along with their calves.

Synonyms

• payasvinīḥ: milk-yielding
• payasvinīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: payasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa

• taruṇīḥ: young
• taruṇīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taruṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa

• śīla-rūpa-guṇa-upapannāḥ: endowed with conduct, beauty, and virtues
• śīla-rūpa-guṇa-upapannāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upapanna (कृदन्त; √pad/√pād? upa+√pad, past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); bahu-tatpuruṣa/ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha sense: ‘endowed with (upapannā) good conduct, beauty, and qualities’

• kapilāḥ: tawny/brown
• kapilāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa

• hema-sṛṅgīḥ: golden-horned
• hema-sṛṅgīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṅginī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: hema-sṛṅgī = ‘having golden horns’

• nyāya-arjitāḥ: rightfully obtained
• nyāya-arjitāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyāya (प्रातिपदिक) + arjita (कृदन्त; √arj, kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: nyāyena arjitāḥ ‘rightfully acquired’

• rūpya-khurāḥ: silver-hoofed
• rūpya-khurāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpya (प्रातिपदिक) + khura (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: rūpya-khura = ‘silver-hoofed’

• sa-vatsāḥ: with calves
• sa-vatsāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); avyayībhāva: sa-vatsā = ‘with calves’

• dukūla-mālā-ābharaṇāḥ: adorned with fine cloth, garlands, and ornaments
• dukūla-mālā-ābharaṇāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dukūla (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.); itaretara-dvandva in sense ‘(having) fine cloth, garlands, and ornaments’ used adjectivally

• dadau: I gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana (sg.), parasmaipada

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aham (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

Characters & Entities

• Satrājit
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about charity (dāna) done with honest earnings?

This verse highlights that gifts offered in dharma should be nyāyārjita—acquired by lawful, righteous means—showing that purity of livelihood supports purity of charity.

Why did Satrājit give richly adorned cows to Lord Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 64?

In the Syamantaka narrative, Satrājit seeks to appease and honor Śrī Kṛṣṇa; he describes giving valuable cows as a dharmic offering meant to restore goodwill and demonstrate sincerity.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Give charity from ethically earned income, offer what is genuinely helpful (not merely symbolic), and give with respect and care—qualities implied by “endowed with virtues” and “adorned” offerings.