Shloka 25

Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam

The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting

Devanagari script

श्रीर्वाच दिष्ट्या प्रसादो युष्माभि: कृतो मे<नुग्रहात्मक: । एवं भवतु भद्रें व: पूजितास्मि सुखप्रदा:

Transliteration

śrīr uvāca—diṣṭyā prasādo yuṣmābhiḥ kṛto me ’nugrahātmakaḥ | evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ vaḥ pūjitāsmī sukhapradāḥ ||

Translation

Śrī (Lakṣmī) said: “By good fortune you have shown me gracious favor—an act of true compassion. So be it; may welfare be yours. Since you have honored me, I shall be a giver of happiness to you.” In the narrative, Lakṣmī acknowledges the cows’ reverent welcome and promises to abide with them, making them auspicious and prosperity-bearing.

Word by Word

• {'śrīḥ': 'Śrī

• Lakṣmī, goddess of prosperity and auspiciousness', 'uvāca': 'said', 'diṣṭyā': 'by good fortune

• fortunately', 'prasādaḥ': 'favor

• benevolent acceptance', 'yuṣmābhiḥ': 'by you (plural, instrumental)', 'kṛtaḥ': 'done

• performed', 'me': 'to me

• my', 'anugrahātmakaḥ': 'of the nature of kindness/compassion

• gracious', 'evaṃ bhavatu': 'let it be so

• so be it', 'bhadram vaḥ': 'welfare/good fortune to you', 'pūjitā': 'honored

• revered', 'asmi': 'I am', 'sukhapradāḥ': 'givers of happiness/comfort (contextually: ‘I become a bestower of happiness’)'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• cows (go)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Honor shown to what is sacred and life-sustaining (here, the cows) invites auspiciousness; prosperity (Śrī) is portrayed as responding to reverence and ethical regard with well-being in return.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reports Śrī/Lakṣmī speaking: she acknowledges the cows’ gracious reception and declares that, being honored, she will remain connected with them and become a source of happiness and welfare for them.