Shloka 17
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
गावस्तेजो महद् दिव्यं गवां दान॑ प्रशस्यते । ये चैता: सम्प्रयच्छन्ति साधवो वीतमत्सरा:
vyāsa uvāca | gāvas tejo mahad divyaṃ gavāṃ dānaṃ praśasyate | ye caitāḥ samprayacchanti sādhavo vītamatsarāḥ |
వ్యాసుడు పలికెను— గోవుల్లో మహత్తరమైన దివ్య తేజస్సు ఉంది; అందుకే గోదానం ప్రశంసింపబడుతుంది. ఈర్ష్యా-ద్వేషాలను విడిచి ఈ గోవులను దానం చేసే సజ్జనులు పుణ్యవంతులుగా చెప్పబడతారు.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that go-dāna (the gift of cows) is especially meritorious because cows are viewed as bearing divine tejas; the ethical condition emphasized is vīta-matsaratā—giving without envy, rivalry, or grudging—so that charity becomes pure and spiritually fruitful.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Vyāsa states a doctrinal praise of cow-gifting: virtuous, non-envious donors who give cows are celebrated and are said to gain an exalted posthumous destination (Goloka, as understood in the traditional explanation).