Shloka 79
वने संवर्धितो गोभि: सो5भिरक्षतु मां मुने । राजा शिबिका एक महातेजस्वी पुत्र बचा हुआ है, जिसका नाम है गोपति। उसे वनमें गौओंने पाल-पोसकर बड़ा किया है। मुने! आपकी आज्ञा हो तो वही मेरी रक्षा करे || ७८३ || प्रतर्दनस्य पुत्रस्तु वत्सो नाम महाबल:
vane saṃvardhito gobhiḥ so ’bhirakṣatu māṃ mune | rājā śibikā eka mahātejasvī putraḥ bacā huā hai, jisakā nāma hai gopati | use vanam̐eṃ gāvoṃne pāla-poṣakara baṛā kiyā hai | mune! āp kī ājñā ho to vahī merī rakṣā kare || pratardanasya putras tu vatso nāma mahābalaḥ ||
Wika ni Vāsudeva: “O pantas, nawa’y siya na pinalaki sa gubat ng mga baka ang magtanggol sa akin. May isang anak na lalaki ni Haring Śibikā, lubhang maningning, na ang pangalan ay Gopati—naligtas at pinalaki sa ilang, inaruga ng mga baka mismo. Kung ipahihintulot mo, O muni, siya ring iyon ang maging tagapagtanggol ko.” (Pagkaraan ay nagpapatuloy ang teksto:) “At ang anak ni Pratardana, na ang pangalan ay Vatsa, ay may dakilang lakas …”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical ideal that protection (rakṣā) should be entrusted to one proven by nurture, character, and circumstance—not merely by status. The image of being ‘reared by cows in the forest’ evokes purity, non-violence, and pastoral dharma, suggesting a protector shaped by simple, sustaining virtues.
Vāsudeva addresses a sage and proposes a specific guardian for himself: Gopati, the radiant son of King Śibikā, who was saved and raised in the forest by cows. The text then transitions to mention another figure—Vatsa, the powerful son of Pratardana—indicating a continuing list or discussion of notable persons and their capacities.