Shloka 22
गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्
Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows
न जातु ब्राह्मणो वाच्यो यदवाच्यं शचीपते । मनसा गोधु न द्रुह्ेद् गोवृत्तिगोंडनुकल्पक:
na jātu brāhmaṇo vācyo yad avācyaṃ śacīpate | manasā goṣu na druhyed govṛttigo'nukalpakaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “O panginoon ni Śacī (Indra), huwag kailanman kausapin ang isang brāhmaṇa ng mga salitang hindi dapat bigkasin. Gayundin, huwag magkimkim, kahit sa isip lamang, ng masamang hangarin laban sa mga baka. Ang brāhmaṇa na namumuhay na ‘gaya ng baka’—payak at di-nananakit—na naglalaan ng damo at pakain para sa mga baka, at nakatuon sa katotohanan at dharma: pakinggan ang bungang darating sa kanya. Kahit isang baka lamang ang kanyang ipamigay, matatamo niya ang meritong katumbas ng pag-aalay ng isang libong baka.”
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
Guard speech and intention: never use improper or abusive words toward a brāhmaṇa, and never entertain hostility toward cows even mentally. A life of simplicity, truth, and active care for cows magnifies the merit of charity—so much that gifting even one cow is praised as equal to a thousand cow-gifts.
In Bhīṣma’s dharma-instruction (Anuśāsana Parva), he addresses Indra by epithet (Śacīpati) while explaining ethical restraints (speech and mental non-harm) and then extols the extraordinary spiritual fruit of cow-related charity, especially when performed by a truthful, dharma-minded brāhmaṇa who supports and provides for cows.