Shloka 4

Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa

Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation

Devanagari script

पुरा गोष्पनीतासु गोषु संदिग्धदर्शिना । मान्धात्रा प्रकृतं प्रश्न बृहस्पतिरभाषत

Transliteration

purā goṣpanītāsu goṣu saṃdigdha-darśinā | māndhātrā prakṛtaṃ praśnaṃ bṛhaspatir abhāṣata ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhishma: Noong unang panahon, nang dalhin ang maraming baka upang ihandog bilang kaloob, si Haring Māndhātṛ—na nag-aalinlangan kung alin ang tunay na nararapat na baka para sa pag-aalay—ay nagtanong ng isang angkop na tanong. Bilang tugon, nagsalita si Bṛhaspati at ipinaliwanag ang wastong pamantayan para sa gayong handog.

Word by Word

• {'purā': 'formerly

• in ancient times', 'goṣu': 'among cows

• with regard to cows (locative plural of go)', 'goṣpanītāsu': "when cows had been brought/led (for a purpose, here for donation)

• lit. 'in (the state of) cows being led'", 'saṃdigdha-darśinā': 'by one whose judgment/vision was doubtful

• by one in uncertainty', 'māndhātrā': 'by Māndhātṛ (instrumental singular)', 'prakṛtam': 'relevant

• appropriate to the matter at hand', 'praśnam': 'question', 'bṛhaspatiḥ': 'Bṛhaspati (the preceptor of the gods)', 'abhāṣata': 'spoke

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Māndhātṛ
• Bṛhaspati
• cows (go)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When performing dāna (charitable gifting), one should not act casually or merely by quantity; the gift must be dharmically appropriate. If uncertain about the proper standard, a ruler should seek authoritative guidance (here, Bṛhaspati) so that the act of giving becomes ethically sound and spiritually meaningful.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces an old precedent: King Māndhātṛ receives many cows intended for donation but hesitates, unsure what kind of cow should be given. He asks Bṛhaspati for clarification, and Bhīṣma is about to recount Bṛhaspati’s answer.