Shloka 12
Go-apahāra (Cattle Theft), Go-dāna (Cow-Gift), and Suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā (Gold Fee): Karmic Consequence and Purificatory Merit
अपश्यत् परिमार्गश्ष तां गां परगृहे द्विज: । ममेयमिति चोवाच ब्राह्णो यस्य साभवत्
apaśyat parimārgamāṇaḥ tāṃ gāṃ paragṛhe dvijaḥ | mamaiyam iti covāca brāhmaṇo yasya sābhavat ||
Pagkalipas ng ilang araw, nagbalik mula sa malayong lupain ang Brahmana at nagsimulang maghanap sa kanyang baka. Sa paghahanap, natagpuan niya ang bakang iyon sa bahay ng ibang tao. Kaya sinabi ng Brahmanang siyang dating may-ari sa isa pang Brahmana: “Ang bakang ito ay akin.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical conflict about rightful ownership and truthful claim: when one finds one’s property in another’s possession, dharma requires a clear assertion of truth (“this is mine”) while the situation calls for a righteous method of resolution rather than force or deceit.
A Brahmin returns from abroad, searches for his missing cow, discovers it in another person’s home, and formally claims it by telling the other Brahmin that the cow belongs to him.