Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 100
स्वर्णशुद्धीं च कपिलां सवत्सां वस्त्रसंवृताम् | वाचकाय च दद्याद्धि आत्मन: श्रेय इच्छता
svarṇaśuddhīṃ ca kapilāṃ savatsāṃ vastrasaṃvṛtām | vācakāya ca dadyād dhi ātmanaḥ śreya icchatā ||
વૈશંપાયન બોલ્યા— જે પોતાનું શ્રેય ઇચ્છે છે, તેણે વાચકને વાછરડાંসহ કપિલા ગાય દાન કરવી; તેના શિંગોમાં શુદ્ધ સોનું મઢાવી અને તેને વસ્ત્રથી ઢાંકી અર્પણ કરવી.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that one’s śreyas (true welfare) is supported by dharmic giving: offering an auspicious, properly prepared gift (a kapilā cow with calf, adorned and covered) to a worthy recipient (the vācaka/reciter). It emphasizes intentional generosity aligned with religious and ethical norms.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration within Svargarohana Parva, prescriptive guidance is being given about meritorious acts. Here, a specific form of go-dāna is recommended—donating a tawny cow with her calf, with gold and cloth adornment, to the reciter—presented as a means to secure spiritual benefit.