Shloka 1
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
/ अपन क्रात बछ। सं: षट्सप्ततितमो< ध्याय: गोदानकी विधि
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | vidhiṁ gavāṁ paraṁ śrotum icchāmi nṛpa tattvataḥ | yena tān śāśvatāl lokān arthināṁ prāptuyād iha ||
યુધિષ્ઠિરે કહ્યું—હે નરેશ્વર! હું ગોદાનની પરમ વિધિ તત્ત્વરૂપે સાંભળવા ઇચ્છું છું; જેના દ્વારા ઇચ્છુક પુરુષો આ લોકમાંથી જ અભિષ્ટ શાશ્વત લોકોને પ્રાપ્ત કરી શકે।
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames go-dāna (the gifting of cows) as a high form of dāna-dharma whose efficacy depends on correct procedure (vidhi). It emphasizes that ethical giving, performed according to dharma and with proper understanding, is believed to lead to enduring spiritual reward (śāśvata-loka).
At the opening of this chapter, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a kingly authority (in context, Bhīṣma as the instructing elder) and requests a precise explanation of the best method for gifting cows, motivated by the desire to know how seekers can attain eternal realms through this charitable act.