Shloka 3
गवां लोकवर्णनं तथा गोप्रदानफलश्रुतिः
Description of the ‘World of Cows’ and the Stated Fruits of Cow-Gift
सर्ववर्णस्तु यच्छक्यं प्रदातुं फलकाड्क्षिभि: । वेदे वा यत् समाख्यातं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमरहसि
sarvavarṇas tu yac chakyaṃ pradātuṃ phalākāṅkṣibhiḥ | vede vā yat samākhyātaṃ tan me vyākhyātum arhasi ||
யுதிஷ்டிரன் கூறினான்— தானத்தின் பலனை விரும்பும் எல்லா வர்ணத்தாரும் அளிக்க இயலும் தானங்கள் எவை? மேலும் வேதத்தில் கூறப்பட்ட தானங்கள் எவை? அவற்றை எனக்கு விளக்கமாகச் சொல்லுங்கள்.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dāna (giving) as a dharmic practice to be understood both in terms of what is practically possible for all varṇas and in terms of what the Veda authoritatively prescribes—inviting a systematic explanation of legitimate forms of charity and their intended fruits.
Yudhiṣṭhira, seeking guidance on dharma, asks the elder teacher to expound the kinds of gifts that people can offer—especially those who seek merit—and to clarify the Vedic descriptions of such giving.