Shloka 49
Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites
Gaṅgā-māhātmya
तथैव गोप्रदानं च विधिना कुरुते तु यः । गोलोमसंख्यवर्षाणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥ ४९ ॥
tathaiva gopradānaṃ ca vidhinā kurute tu yaḥ | golomasaṃkhyavarṣāṇi svargaloke mahīyate || 49 ||
اسی طرح جو شخص مقررہ ودھی کے مطابق گائے کا دان کرتا ہے، وہ گائے کے بالوں کی تعداد کے برابر برسوں تک سوَرگ لوک میں معزز رہتا ہے۔
Narada (teaching within Uttara-Bhaga’s mahatmya/ritual-merit narration; traditionally framed in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates go-dāna (cow-gifting) as a high-merit act of dāna, stressing that charity becomes spiritually potent when done “vidhinā” (with correct rite and intention), yielding vast heavenly reward (svarga-phala).
While the verse is primarily about dāna-phala, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching disciplined, reverent offering (proper vidhi), a key bhakti attitude—giving with sanctity and dharmic intent rather than mere display.
The emphasis on “vidhi” points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) as the practical Vedāṅga underpinning: charitable acts are to be performed with prescribed rules, purity, and correct ceremonial method.