Previous Verse

Shloka 313

Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)

तस्मात्तु कपिला देया कौमुद्रां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे । ब्रह्म हत्याके समान जो कोई पाप होता है

tasmāttu kapilā deyā kaumudrāṁ jyeṣṭha-puṣkare |

ヤマは言った。「ゆえに、カールティカ月の満月の日、ジュエーシュタ=プシュカラの聖地において、褐色の牝牛(カピラー)を布施すべきである。この一度の施しは、ブラフマハティヤー(婆羅門殺し)ほどの重罪さえも清めると説かれ、またこの一頭の牛の施与は、通常の牛施を百回行うのに等しい功徳があると宣言される。要するに、信をもって、時と処を得て、誠実に如法に行われるダーナ(布施)は、驚くべき浄化の力を備え、ダルマの秩序を支えるのである。」

तस्मात्therefore/from that
तस्मात्:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
कपिलाa tawny (kapilā) cow
कपिला:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकपिला
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
देयाshould be given
देया:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
FormGerundive (potential passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Passive, ought to be given
कौमुद्राम्at/for the Kaumudrā (full-moon night/occasion)
कौमुद्राम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकौमुद्रा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
ज्येष्ठपुष्करेin Jyeṣṭha-puṣkara (the sacred place)
ज्येष्ठपुष्करे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootज्येष्ठपुष्कर
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular

यम उवाच

Y
Yama
K
Kapilā cow
J
Jyeṣṭha-Puṣkara (tīrtha)
K
Kārtika Pūrṇimā (full moon of Kārtika)
B
Brahmahatyā (sin)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches the exceptional purificatory and merit-giving power of properly performed dāna—specifically, donating a kapilā cow at the sacred place Jyeṣṭha-Puṣkara on Kārtika Pūrṇimā—said to cleanse even extremely grave sins and to equal the merit of many ordinary cow-gifts.

In Yama’s discourse on dharma and religious duties, he prescribes a specific act of charity tied to a particular time (Kārtika full moon) and place (Jyeṣṭha-Puṣkara), emphasizing its extraordinary efficacy as expiation and as a source of puṇya.