Shloka 50
गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्
Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows
तृणगोमयपर्णाशी निःस्पूृहो नियत: शुचि: । अकामं तेन वस्तव्यं मुदितेन शतक्रतो
tṛṇa-gomaya-parṇāśī niḥspṛho niyataḥ śuciḥ | akāmaṃ tena vastavyaṃ muditena śatakrato ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Hendaklah dia hidup dengan puas hati, wahai Śatakratu, memakan rumput, tahi lembu dan daun—tanpa keinginan, menahan diri, dan suci. Dengan berdiam demikian tanpa hasrat, dia mencapai alamku dan hidup gembira di kalangan para dewa; atau jika tidak, dia pergi ke mana-mana alam yang dikehendakinya.”
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an austere, disciplined, and desireless life—marked by contentment, purity, and freedom from craving—as a path to exalted post-mortem states (Bhīṣma’s world/realms of the gods) and even the freedom to reach desired worlds.
Bhīṣma addresses Indra (Śatakratu) while describing the spiritual reward of a forest-dweller who follows the prescribed ascetic rule—living simply on grass, leaves, and cow-dung, remaining self-restrained and pure—thereby attaining divine realms.