Shloka 14
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
आप्तोयमिषु नियतमेकैकस्मिन् दशाददम् । गृष्टीनां क्षीरदात्रीणां रोहिणीनां शतानि च
āpto ’yam iṣu niyatam ekaikasmin daśādadam | gṛṣṭīnāṃ kṣīradātrīṇāṃ rohiṇīnāṃ śatāni ca ||
Bhagīratha berkata: “Dengan menunaikan dīkṣā dan kaul yang ditetapkan bagi yajña, setiap kali kepada setiap Brahmana aku berikan sepuluh sapi yang baru pertama kali beranak dan sedang memberi susu, serta ratusan sapi jenis Rohiṇī.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
That righteous giving (dāna) should be performed in a regulated, lawful manner and directed toward sustaining dharma—here, by supporting brāhmaṇas and sacrificial life with valuable, life-sustaining gifts like milk-yielding cows.
Bhagīratha recounts his past acts of merit: after undertaking sacrificial consecrations and vows, he repeatedly donated to brāhmaṇas sets of ten first-calved, milk-giving cows and additionally hundreds of Rohiṇī-breed cows, presenting his generosity as evidence of dharmic conduct.