Shloka 39
गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्
Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows
स्वाध्यायाब्यं शुद्धयोनिं प्रशान्तं वैतानस्थं पापभीरुं बहुज्ञम् | गोषु क्षान्तं नातितीक्ष्णं शरण्यं वृत्तिग्लानं तादृशं पात्रमाहु:
svādhyāyāḍhyaṃ śuddhayoniṃ praśāntaṃ vaitānasthaṃ pāpabhīruṃ bahujñam | goṣu kṣāntaṃ nātitīkṣṇaṃ śaraṇyaṃ vṛttiglannaṃ tādṛśaṃ pātram āhuḥ ||
Sabi ni Bhīṣma: “Ipinahahayag nilang ang karapat-dapat na tatanggap (sa handog na baka) ay yaong brāhmaṇa na sagana sa pag-aaral ng Veda, isinilang sa dalisay na angkan, payapa ang asal, deboto sa tradisyong sakripisyong Vaidika, takot sa kasalanan at malawak ang kaalaman; yaong matiisin at mahinahon sa mga baka, hindi likás na marahas, marunong magbigay ng kanlungan at pag-iingat, at hindi na nakatali—o pagód na—sa makamundong kabuhayan. Siya ang tinatawag na karapat-dapat na sisidlan para sa go-dāna.”
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
A gift becomes ethically fruitful when given to a worthy recipient. For go-dāna, Bhīṣma defines the ideal recipient as a learned, self-controlled, sin-fearing brāhmaṇa devoted to Vedic practice, gentle toward cows, protective, and not motivated by livelihood or gain.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on gifts and duties, Bhīṣma advises (as an elder teacher) about the proper qualifications of a brāhmaṇa who should receive the gift of cows, emphasizing learning, character, and compassionate protection.