Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
अभयं भक्षयन्त्यश् च गावो दत्तास् तथा स्वकाः त्यक्तस्नेहाः स्ववत्सेषु गर्भक्षयकरा मताः
abhayaṃ bhakṣayantyaś ca gāvo dattās tathā svakāḥ tyaktasnehāḥ svavatseṣu garbhakṣayakarā matāḥ
โคที่ถูกมอบเป็นทาน—จะเป็นของผู้อื่นหรือของตนเองก็ตาม—หากกินพืชชื่อ ‘อภัยา’ ย่อมถูกถือว่าเสื่อมความเอ็นดูต่อลูกโคของตน และเป็นเหตุให้แท้ง (ครรภ์เสื่อม) ได้
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Guidance for donors/householders on avoiding harmful fodder for gifted cows and preventing reproductive loss in cattle; also a caution about unintended karmic/ethical consequences in dāna management.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Abhayā-bhakṣaṇa-doṣa in dāna-gauḥ (Hazard of Abhayā fodder for gifted cows)","lookup_keywords":["dāna-gauḥ","abhayā","tyakta-sneha","vatsa","garbha-kṣaya"],"quick_summary":"Gifted cows that consume a plant termed Abhayā are said to lose affection for their calves and to cause miscarriage. Practically, the verse warns to manage fodder and stressors carefully in donated/relocated cattle."}
Concept: Dāna is not merely transfer of property; it entails continuing responsibility to prevent harm to the gifted being (gauḥ) and its progeny.
Application: In cow-gifting, ensure proper aftercare: safe fodder, veterinary observation, and protection of calf–cow bonding to avoid harm and demerit.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Dana (Gifts) and their karmic consequences
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pastoral scene: a cow recently given in donation grazes on a distinct plant labeled Abhayā; the calf stands neglected; a worried herdsman notices signs of distress in a pregnant cow, emphasizing the warning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized cows and calf, donor and recipient figures in profile, the Abhayā plant rendered distinct, expressive eyes showing distress, earthy greens and reds, didactic temple-panel feel","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central cow-and-calf with gold accents on ornaments, donor offering a cow, recipient leading it, Abhayā plant highlighted, ornate border motifs, solemn cautionary mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional pastoral tableau: labeled plant, cow grazing, caretaker gesturing ‘do not feed’, gentle palette and fine linework for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed meadow with botanically suggestive plant, cow and calf separated, human figures in fine garments indicating donation, subtle narrative of concern and consequence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्षयन्त्यः (भक्षयन्तीः) + च → भक्षयन्त्यश्च; दत्ताः + तथा → दत्तास्तथा; त्यक्त + स्नेहाः → त्यक्तस्नेहाः (समास); गर्भ+क्षय+कराः → गर्भक्षयकराः (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (dāna and nimitta adjacency)
FAQs
It warns that donated cows (and even one’s own) should not be allowed to graze on Abhayā/Harītakī, as it is said to disrupt maternal behavior and harm pregnancy—an applied rule blending dana-dharma with practical animal/health caution.
Alongside charity ethics (dāna) and dharma, it preserves a technical note resembling Ayurvedic/folk-veterinary knowledge about a specific substance (Abhayā) and reproductive outcomes, showing the text’s wide-ranging, handbook-like scope.
Because cow-gifting is a high-merit act, the verse implies that negligence causing suffering (miscarriage, calf rejection) becomes a fault (doṣa) that diminishes the merit of dāna and accrues demerit through harm to a protected being.