Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
अभयं भक्षयन्त्यश् च गावो दत्तास् तथा स्वकाः त्यक्तस्नेहाः स्ववत्सेषु गर्भक्षयकरा मताः
abhayaṃ bhakṣayantyaś ca gāvo dattās tathā svakāḥ tyaktasnehāḥ svavatseṣu garbhakṣayakarā matāḥ
គោដែលបានប្រគល់ឲ្យអ្នកដទៃ—មិនថាជាគោរបស់អ្នកដទៃ ឬរបស់ខ្លួនឯង—បើវាស៊ីរុក្ខជាតិឈ្មោះ «អភយា» គេរាប់ថាវាបាត់សេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ចំពោះកូនគោរបស់ខ្លួន ហើយជាហេតុនាំឲ្យរលូតកូន (បាត់ផ្ទៃ)។
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Guidance for donors/householders on avoiding harmful fodder for gifted cows and preventing reproductive loss in cattle; also a caution about unintended karmic/ethical consequences in dāna management.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Abhayā-bhakṣaṇa-doṣa in dāna-gauḥ (Hazard of Abhayā fodder for gifted cows)","lookup_keywords":["dāna-gauḥ","abhayā","tyakta-sneha","vatsa","garbha-kṣaya"],"quick_summary":"Gifted cows that consume a plant termed Abhayā are said to lose affection for their calves and to cause miscarriage. Practically, the verse warns to manage fodder and stressors carefully in donated/relocated cattle."}
Concept: Dāna is not merely transfer of property; it entails continuing responsibility to prevent harm to the gifted being (gauḥ) and its progeny.
Application: In cow-gifting, ensure proper aftercare: safe fodder, veterinary observation, and protection of calf–cow bonding to avoid harm and demerit.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Dana (Gifts) and their karmic consequences
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pastoral scene: a cow recently given in donation grazes on a distinct plant labeled Abhayā; the calf stands neglected; a worried herdsman notices signs of distress in a pregnant cow, emphasizing the warning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized cows and calf, donor and recipient figures in profile, the Abhayā plant rendered distinct, expressive eyes showing distress, earthy greens and reds, didactic temple-panel feel","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central cow-and-calf with gold accents on ornaments, donor offering a cow, recipient leading it, Abhayā plant highlighted, ornate border motifs, solemn cautionary mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional pastoral tableau: labeled plant, cow grazing, caretaker gesturing ‘do not feed’, gentle palette and fine linework for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed meadow with botanically suggestive plant, cow and calf separated, human figures in fine garments indicating donation, subtle narrative of concern and consequence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्षयन्त्यः (भक्षयन्तीः) + च → भक्षयन्त्यश्च; दत्ताः + तथा → दत्तास्तथा; त्यक्त + स्नेहाः → त्यक्तस्नेहाः (समास); गर्भ+क्षय+कराः → गर्भक्षयकराः (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (dāna and nimitta adjacency)
FAQs
It warns that donated cows (and even one’s own) should not be allowed to graze on Abhayā/Harītakī, as it is said to disrupt maternal behavior and harm pregnancy—an applied rule blending dana-dharma with practical animal/health caution.
Alongside charity ethics (dāna) and dharma, it preserves a technical note resembling Ayurvedic/folk-veterinary knowledge about a specific substance (Abhayā) and reproductive outcomes, showing the text’s wide-ranging, handbook-like scope.
Because cow-gifting is a high-merit act, the verse implies that negligence causing suffering (miscarriage, calf rejection) becomes a fault (doṣa) that diminishes the merit of dāna and accrues demerit through harm to a protected being.