Shloka 15
Go-apahāra (Cattle Theft), Go-dāna (Cow-Gift), and Suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā (Gold Fee): Karmic Consequence and Purificatory Merit
देशकालोपसम्पन्ना दोग्ध्री शान्तातिवत्सला | स्वादुक्षीरप्रदा धन््या मम नित्यं निवेशने
deśa-kālopasampannā dogdhrī śāntātivatsalā | svādu-kṣīra-pradā dhanyā mama nityaṃ niveśane ||
“ఈ ఆవు దేశ-కాలానికి తగినదిగా, పాలు ఇచ్చేది, శాంతమైనది, దూడపై అత్యంత వాత్సల్యమున్నది. ఇది మధురమైన పాలను ఇస్తుంది. ఇది నా ఇంటికి వచ్చినందుకు నేను ధన్యుడను—ఇది ఎల్లప్పుడూ నా గృహంలోనే ఉండనీ.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment and value-based choice: what is ‘fit to place and time’ (deśa-kāla) and intrinsically beneficial (sweet milk, gentle nature) can be prized beyond mere numerical compensation, pointing to dharma as qualitative rather than purely transactional.
In Bhishma’s account, a cow is being praised for her virtues—calm temperament, affection for her calf, and sweet milk—and the speaker expresses the wish that she remain permanently in his household, implying a refusal to part with her even when offered many cows in exchange.