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Shloka 46

Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)

अमृतं वै गवां क्षीरमित्याह त्रिदशाधिप: । तस्माद्‌ ददाति यो धेनुममृतं स प्रयच्छति,देवराज इन्द्रने कहा है कि 'गौओंका दूध अमृत है"; जो दूध देनेवाली गौका दान करता है, वह अमृत दान करता है

amṛtaṃ vai gavāṃ kṣīram ity āha tridaśādhipaḥ | tasmād dadāti yo dhenum amṛtaṃ sa prayacchati ||

ビーシュマは言った。「神々の主インドラは『牛の乳はまさしく甘露である』と宣言した。ゆえに、乳を出す牝牛を布施する者は、実に甘露そのものを施すのである。」

अमृतम्nectar, ambrosia
अमृतम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअमृत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
गवाम्of cows
गवाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootगो
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
क्षीरम्milk
क्षीरम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षीर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
आहsaid
आह:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular
त्रिदशाधिपःlord of the thirty (gods), Indra
त्रिदशाधिपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootत्रिदशाधिप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तस्मात्therefore, from that
तस्मात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतद्
ददातिgives
ददाति:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धेनुम्a milch cow
धेनुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अमृतम्nectar (as a gift)
अमृतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअमृत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रयच्छतिbestows, grants
प्रयच्छति:
TypeVerb
Rootयम्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
I
Indra (Tridaśādhipa/Devarāja)
C
Cow (go/dhenu)
M
Milk (kṣīra)
N
Nectar (amṛta)

Educational Q&A

That giving a milch cow is among the highest forms of charity because it provides ongoing nourishment; the gift is equated with offering “amṛta,” emphasizing the dharmic value of sustaining life.

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and gifts, he cites Indra’s authoritative statement that cow’s milk is like nectar, then draws the ethical conclusion that donating a milk-giving cow amounts to donating nectar.