Shloka 10

गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्

Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows

Devanagari script

तत्र सर्वसहा: क्षान्ता वत्सला गुरुवर्तिन: । अहंकारैरविरहिता यान्ति शक्र नरोत्तमा:,इन्द्र! जो सब कुछ सहनेवाले, क्षमाशील, दयालु, गुरुजनोंकी आज्ञामें रहनेवाले और अहंकाररहित हैं, वे श्रेष्ठ मनुष्य ही उस लोकमें जाते हैं

Transliteration

tatra sarvasahāḥ kṣāntā vatsalā guruvartinaḥ | ahaṃkārair avirahītā yānti śakra narottamāḥ || indra!

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “In that realm, O Śakra (Indra), only those best among men attain it—those who can endure all hardships, who are patient and forgiving, who are tenderly compassionate, who live in obedience to their elders and teachers, and who are free from pride. Such virtues, rather than mere power or status, are the marks of those fit for that higher world.”

Word by Word

तत्रthere, in that place

सर्वसहाःall-enduring, forbearing

क्षान्ताःpatient, forgiving

वत्सलाःaffectionate, kind

गुरुवर्तिनःobedient to elders/teachers

अहंकारैःby/with egoisms, prides

अविरहिताःnot separated (i.e., not free) from

यान्तिgo, attain

शक्रO Śakra (Indra)

नरोत्तमाःbest of men

इन्द्रO Indra

Speaker

पितामह उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)

Indra (Śakra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that true excellence and eligibility for a higher realm come from ethical virtues—endurance, forgiveness, compassion, obedience to elders/teachers, and freedom from ego—rather than from external achievements or power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha) addresses Indra (Śakra), describing the kind of people who attain that exalted realm: those who embody patience, compassion, disciplined respect for gurus/elders, and humility.