Shloka 166
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
स च तीर्थजले स्नातः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । नारद उवाच । गवां च दशवर्णानां कस्य दाने च किंफलम्
sa ca tīrthajale snātaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | nārada uvāca | gavāṃ ca daśavarṇānāṃ kasya dāne ca kiṃphalam
અને જે તીર્થજળમાં સ્નાન કરે છે તે પણ સર્વ પાપોથી મુક્ત થાય છે। નારદ બોલ્યા—“ગાયોના દશ વર્ણોમાંથી કઈ ગાયનું દાન કરવાથી કયું ફળ પ્રાપ્ત થાય?”
Nārada (questioning; with a preceding narrative statement by the narrator/previous speaker)
Concept: Sacred waters purify, yet dharma also asks for discernment: specific gifts (like cows of different varṇa) yield specific fruits.
Application: Balance devotion with informed practice: when undertaking charity, learn the tradition’s intent (recipient, timing, purity of means) rather than acting randomly.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a riverbank tīrtha, pilgrims step into shimmering water while a sage-like figure (Nārada) stands slightly apart, veena slung over his shoulder, raising a questioning hand. The scene blends devotion and scholarship: wet footprints on stone steps, offerings floating, and a scroll or palm-leaf manuscript hinting at dharma inquiry.","primary_figures":["Nārada","pilgrims (householders and ascetics)"],"setting":"Stone ghāṭa at a sacred ford; small shrines along the steps; offering plates with flowers and lamps.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["river turquoise","sunlit gold","stone gray","lotus pink","sandalwood beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sacred river ghāṭa with pilgrims bathing, Nārada with vīṇā in ornate attire asking a question, gold leaf radiance on the water’s surface and halos, rich reds/greens, intricate temple architecture framing the ghāṭa.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant riverside ghāṭa, delicate ripples, Nārada in graceful pose with vīṇā, soft pastel sky, refined faces, lyrical naturalism with small shrines and flowering trees.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized ghāṭa steps, bold outlines, Nārada with characteristic large eyes and vīṇā, patterned water rendered in rhythmic curves, warm pigment palette with decorative borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: river as a decorative band of blue with lotus motifs, Nārada centered with vīṇā, pilgrims as smaller figures, ornate floral borders, gold detailing, devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["flowing water","ghāṭa bells","soft conch shell","murmured mantras","veena drone (subtle)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: किंफलम् = किम् + फलम्; verse includes speaker tag 'नारद उवाच'.
FAQs
It states that bathing in tīrtha-water results in liberation from all sins (sarvapāpa-pramocana), framing tīrtha-snāna as a potent act of purification.
The verse introduces a dāna-śāstra style inquiry: different categories (here, ten varieties by color/complexion) of cows are believed to yield distinct spiritual fruits when donated, prompting a systematic explanation in the subsequent text.
It links inner purification (tīrtha-snāna) with outward generosity (dāna), implying that spiritual life combines personal discipline with charitable giving—especially gifts considered socially and ritually significant, like cows.