Shloka 40

गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्

Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows

Devanagari script

वृत्तिग्लाने सीदति चातिमात्रं कृष्यर्थ वा होम्यहेतो: प्रसूते: । गुर्वर्थ वा बालसंवृद्धये वा धेनुं दद्याद्‌ देशकालेडविशिष्टे

Transliteration

vṛttiglāne sīdati cātimātraṃ kṛṣyarthaṃ vā homyahetoḥ prasūteḥ | gurvarthaṃ vā bālasaṃvṛddhaye vā dhenuṃ dadyād deśakāle ’viśiṣṭe ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯାହାର ଜୀବିକା କ୍ଷୀଣ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି ଏବଂ ଯେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କଷ୍ଟରେ ଅଛି, ସେହି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣକୁ ଦେଶ-କାଳରେ ବିଶେଷତା ନଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୁଧାରୁ ଗାଈ ଦାନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ଏହା ସହ କୃଷି ପାଇଁ, ହୋମ-ସାମଗ୍ରୀ ପାଇଁ, ପ୍ରସୂତା ନାରୀର ପୋଷଣ ପାଇଁ, ଗୁରୁଦକ୍ଷିଣା ପାଇଁ କିମ୍ବା ଶିଶୁପାଳନ ପାଇଁ ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ହେଲେ—ସାଧାରଣ ଦେଶ-କାଳରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୁଧାରୁ ଗାଈ ଦାନ ଯୁକ୍ତିସଙ୍ଗତ।

Word by Word

• वृत्तिग्लाने: when livelihood is failing/declining
• वृत्तिग्लाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति-ग्लान
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सीदति: sinks; is distressed; languishes
• सीदति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• अतिमात्रम्: excessively; very much
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अतिमात्र

• कृष्यर्थम्: for the purpose of agriculture
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• होम्यहेतोः: for the sake of (things) fit for homa; for homa-material
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम्य-हेतु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रसूतेः: of a woman in childbirth; of a parturient (woman)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसूति
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• गुर्वर्थम्: for the teacher’s purpose; for guru-fee (gurudakṣiṇā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• बालसंवृद्धये: for the nourishment/bringing-up of a child
• बालसंवृद्धये: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल-संवृद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Dative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• धेनुम्: a milch-cow
• धेनुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• देशकाले: in (proper) place and time
• देशकाले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश-काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

• अविशिष्टे: even when not exceptional; in ordinary (place and time)
• अविशिष्टे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविशिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

Speaker

पितामह उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)
• brāhmaṇa
• dhenu (milch cow)
• guru (teacher)
• homa (fire-offering)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that gifting a milch cow is a highly meritorious and socially sustaining form of dāna, recommended even in ordinary circumstances when it relieves severe livelihood distress or supports essential duties—farming, Vedic rites, postpartum care, guru-dakṣiṇā, and child-rearing.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially the ethics of giving. Here he specifies practical situations where donating a milk-giving cow is appropriate and beneficial, emphasizing compassion and maintenance of household and ritual life.