Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — The Kauśika Descendants: Śrāddha

Devanagari script

गर्गादेशाद्वने दोग्ध्रीं रक्षन्तस्ते तपोधनाः खादामः कपिलामेतां वयं क्षुत्पीडिता भृशम् //

Transliteration

gargādeśādvane dogdhrīṃ rakṣantaste tapodhanāḥ khādāmaḥ kapilāmetāṃ vayaṃ kṣutpīḍitā bhṛśam //

Translation

“By Garga’s command, those ascetics—rich in austerity—were guarding the milch-cow in the forest. But we, being fiercely tormented by hunger, are eating this Kapilā (cow).”

Word by Word

• गर्गादेशात्: by Garga’s instruction/command

• वने: in the forest

• दोग्ध्रीम्: the milch-cow (one that gives milk)

• रक्षन्तः: guarding/protecting

• ते: those (persons)

• तपोधनाः: ascetics whose ‘wealth’ is tapas

• खादामः: we eat/are eating

• कपिलाम्: Kapilā (the tawny cow

• एताम्: this (one)

• वयम्: we

• क्षुत्पीडिताः: afflicted/pressed by hunger

• भृशम्: severely, intensely

Speaker

• Unspecified narratorial voice within the episode (likely the distressed party confessing/justifying the act to a rishi/king in the Kapilā-cow narrative context)

Entities Mentioned

• Garga
• Kapilā (the cow)
• Tapodhanas (ascetics)

Tags

• Dharma
• Rishi-episodes
• Hunger and ethical dilemma
• Cow protection
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

Nothing directly—this verse is a moral-narrative moment about conduct under distress (hunger) and the protection of a sacred milch-cow, not a pralaya or cosmology passage.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It highlights dharma under pressure: even in hardship, harming a protected milch-cow is treated as a grave transgression. A king/householder is implied to uphold protection of cattle and support ascetics so that famine or neglect does not drive such violations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-rule detail appears here; the ritual-ethical emphasis is on guarding a consecrated/protected cow and the karmic weight of violating that protection.