Shloka 1
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें नृगका उपाख्यानविषयक सत्तरवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ ७० ॥। अपन क्रात छा अर: एकसप्ततितमो<् ध्याय: पिताके शापसे नाचिकेतका यमराजके पास जाना और यमराजका नाचिकेतको गोदानकी महिमा बताना युधिछिर उवाच दत्तानां फलसम्प्राप्तिं गवां प्रब्रूहि मेडनघ । विस्तरेण महाबाहो न हि तृप्पामि कथ्यताम्,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--निष्पाप महाबाहो! गौओंके दानसे जिस फलकी प्राप्ति होती है, वह मुझे विस्तारके साथ बताइये। मुझे आपके वचनामृतोंको सुनते-सुनते तृप्ति नहीं होती है, इसलिये अभी और कहिये
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca:
Dattānāṁ phala-samprāptiṁ gavāṁ prabrūhi medānagha |
Vistareṇa mahābāho na hi tṛpyāmi kathyatām ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O sinless one, O mighty-armed, tell me in detail what reward is attained by the gifting of cows. I do not become satisfied by hearing of it; therefore, speak further.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dāna-dharma as a serious ethical inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks a detailed understanding of the spiritual and moral ‘fruit’ (phala) of go-dāna, implying that charity should be practiced with knowledge, intention, and respect for its dharmic significance.
At the opening of the chapter, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a revered interlocutor (called ‘sinless’ and ‘mighty-armed’) and requests an expanded explanation of the benefits of gifting cows, indicating that the discourse will continue with further instruction on the greatness of go-dāna.