Shloka 5

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

हेमशृङ्गी शफैः रौप्यैः शुशीला वस्त्रसंयुता / सकांस्यापात्रा दातव्य क्षीरिणी गौः सदक्षिणा

Transliteration

hemaśṛṅgī śaphaiḥ raupyaiḥ śuśīlā vastrasaṃyutā / sakāṃsyāpātrā dātavya kṣīriṇī gauḥ sadakṣiṇā

Translation

ਸੋਨੇ ਦੇ ਸਿੰਗਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਦੇ ਖੁਰਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ, ਸੁਸ਼ੀਲ, ਵਸਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ, ਕਾਂਸੀ ਦੇ ਪਾਤਰ ਸਮੇਤ ਅਤੇ ਯਥੋਚਿਤ ਦਕਸ਼ਿਣਾ ਨਾਲ ਦੁੱਧ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਗਾਂ ਦਾਨ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• हेमशृङ्गी: golden-horned
• हेमशृङ्गी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + शृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हेम-शृङ्गी = having golden horns)

• शफैः: with hooves
• शफैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• रौप्यैः: silver (made of silver)
• रौप्यैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (silver)

• शुशीला: well-behaved, gentle
• शुशीला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुशील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वस्त्रसंयुता: adorned with cloth
• वस्त्रसंयुता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्र + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √युज् + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रैः संयुता = furnished with cloth)

• सकांस्यापात्रा: together with a bronze vessel
• सकांस्यापात्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + कांस्य + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/सह-समासः (with a bronze vessel)

• दातव्या: should be given
• दातव्या: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (she) ought to be given

• क्षीरिणी: milch (yielding milk)
• क्षीरिणी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (milk-giving)

• गौः: cow
• गौः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सदक्षिणा: with a priestly fee (dakṣiṇā)
• सदक्षिणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सह-समासः (with dakṣiṇā/fee)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper go-dāna: donate a milk-giving, well-behaved cow adorned appropriately, accompanied by vessel and dakṣiṇā.

Vedantic Theme: External ritual exactness supports inner reverence; sattvic giving honors life (go as dharma’s support) and purifies intention.

Application: When making traditional gifts, ensure the offering is wholesome and not harmful (healthy animal, proper care); include necessary accessories/support so the gift is truly beneficial.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98.6 (weights/values for ornaments and vessel); Garuda Purana 1.98.2–1.98.4 (pātra and śraddhā in giving)

Characters & Entities

• Gau (cow)

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes go-dāna as a meritorious ritual gift—offering a properly adorned, gentle, milk-giving cow along with a vessel and dakṣiṇā—supporting dharmic merit connected to end-of-life rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

In the Garuda Purana’s ritual framework, such prescribed dānas are presented as supports that increase puṇya (merit), which is understood to aid the departed’s post-death journey and reduce obstacles in the afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If literal go-dāna is not feasible, the principle is to give ethically—support sustenance and caregiving (food, cowsheds, dairy livelihood, or charitable support) and offer appropriate dakṣiṇā with sincerity and purity of intent.