Shloka 22
गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्
Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows
न जातु ब्राह्मणो वाच्यो यदवाच्यं शचीपते । मनसा गोधु न द्रुह्ेद् गोवृत्तिगोंडनुकल्पक:
na jātu brāhmaṇo vācyo yad avācyaṃ śacīpate | manasā goṣu na druhyed govṛttigo'nukalpakaḥ ||
Wahai Śacīpati, wahai Śakra! Jangan sekali-kali mengucapkan kata yang tak patut kepada seorang brāhmaṇa; dan jangan pula, bahkan dalam batin, menyimpan niat jahat terhadap sapi. Seorang brāhmaṇa yang hidup dengan laku bak sapi—sederhana dan tak menyakiti—yang menyediakan rumput dan pakan bagi sapi, serta teguh dalam satya dan dharma: dengarkan buahnya. Sekalipun ia mendanakan hanya seekor sapi, ia memperoleh pahala setara dengan dana seribu sapi.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
Guard speech and intention: never use improper or abusive words toward a brāhmaṇa, and never entertain hostility toward cows even mentally. A life of simplicity, truth, and active care for cows magnifies the merit of charity—so much that gifting even one cow is praised as equal to a thousand cow-gifts.
In Bhīṣma’s dharma-instruction (Anuśāsana Parva), he addresses Indra by epithet (Śacīpati) while explaining ethical restraints (speech and mental non-harm) and then extols the extraordinary spiritual fruit of cow-related charity, especially when performed by a truthful, dharma-minded brāhmaṇa who supports and provides for cows.