Shloka 12

Gavāṃ Māhātmya — Go-dāna, Yajña-ādhāra, and Goloka

Brahmā–Indra–Surabhi Itihāsa

Devanagari script

समानवत्सां कृष्णां तु धेनुं दत््वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामग्निलोके महीयते

Transliteration

samānavatsāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm | suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītām agniloke mahīyate ||

Translation

ବସିଷ୍ଠ କହିଲେ— ଯେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଦୁଧ ଦେଉଥିବା ସୁଲକ୍ଷଣା କୃଷ୍ଣବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଗାଈକୁ, ସେହି ବର୍ଣ୍ଣର ବଛଡ଼ା ସହିତ, ବସ୍ତ୍ର ଓଢ଼ାଇ ଦାନ କରେ, ସେ ଅଗ୍ନିଲୋକରେ ସମ୍ମାନ ଓ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• समानवत्साम्: having a calf of the same color (with her calf)
• समानवत्साम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समानवत्सा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कृष्णाम्: black (dark-colored)
• कृष्णाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

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

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

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सुव्रताम्: of good conduct/virtuous
• सुव्रताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुव्रता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वस्त्रसंवीताम्: clothed/covered with a garment
• वस्त्रसंवीताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्रसंवीता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle from सम्+वे/वी ‘to cover’)

• अग्निलोके: in Agni’s world (the realm of Fire)
• अग्निलोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निलोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महीयते: is honored/is exalted
• Type: Verb
• Root: महीय
• Form: Lat (present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive/mediopassive sense

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Agni
• Agniloka
• black milch cow (dhenu)
• calf (vatsa)
• garment/cloth (vastra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the dharmic principle that charity should be complete and respectful: giving a productive cow along with her calf and with proper presentation (clothing/covering) yields great merit, leading to honor in Agni’s realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha is describing the फल (result) of a specific act of dāna: donating a black, milk-giving cow together with a matching calf, properly adorned/covered, and he states the spiritual reward—exaltation in Agniloka.