Shloka 41

Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda

Kārttikeya

Devanagari script

गाव: पवित्रा: पुण्याश्व॒ पावनं परमं महत्‌ | ताश्च दत्त्वा द्विजातिभ्यो नर: स्वर्गमुपाशुते

Transliteration

gāvaḥ pavitrāḥ puṇyāśva pāvanaṁ paramaṁ mahat | tāś ca dattvā dvijātibhyo naraḥ svargam upāśnute ||

Translation

牛は清浄にして神聖、最上の浄化力を備え、功徳は大いなるもの。これを二度生まれし者（dvija、ことにバラモン）に布施する人は天界に至り、その安楽を享受する。

Word by Word

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• पवित्राः: pure, purifying
• पवित्राः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• पुण्याः: holy, meritorious
• पुण्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पावनम्: purifying (thing)
• पावनम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ताः: them (those cows)
• ताः: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• द्विजातिभ्यः: to the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपाश्नुते: enjoys, attains (as enjoyment)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + अश्
• Form: Present, लट्, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• cows (gāvaḥ)
• dvijāti (twice-born, especially Brahmins)
• svarga (heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that gifting cows (go-dāna) is a supremely purifying act of dharma; giving them to the twice-born—especially Brahmins—produces great merit and leads to heavenly enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on gifts and religious duties, Vyāsa states the sanctity of cows and declares the spiritual reward gained by donating them to qualified recipients.