Shloka 11

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

Brahmā–Indra–Surabhi Itihāsa

Devanagari script

समानवत्सां श्वेतां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामिन्द्रलोके महीयते

Transliteration

samānavatsāṁ śvetāṁ tu dhenuṁ dattvā payasvinīm | suvratāṁ vastrasaṁvītām indraloke mahīyate ||

Translation

பால் தரும் நற்குறியுடைய வெண்நிறப் பசுவை, வெண்நிறக் கன்றுடன், துணியால் போர்த்தி தானம் செய்பவன் இந்திரலோகத்தில் மதிக்கப்படுவான்.

Word by Word

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

• श्वेताम्: white
• श्वेताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: indeed/and (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• धेनुम्: 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-giving, full of milk
• 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 (or वे/वी) 'to cover, clothe'

• इन्द्रलोके: in Indra's world (heaven)
• इन्द्रलोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रलोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह्
• Form: Lat, Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive/mediopassive sense: 'is honored'

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Indra
• Indraloka
• white milch cow (dhenu)
• calf (vatsa)
• cloth/garment (vastra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dāna should be complete and compassionate: giving a healthy, milk-yielding cow along with her calf and proper covering reflects responsible charity, producing spiritual merit and honor in the heavenly realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha is describing the फल (result) of a specific dharmic gift—donating a white milch cow with a matching calf and suitable cloth—stating that the donor attains honor in Indra’s world.