Shloka 2

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / एका गौः स्वस्थचित्तस्य ह्यातुरस्य च गोशतम् / सहस्रं म्रियमाणस्य दत्तं वित्तविवर्जितम्

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / ekā gauḥ svasthacittasya hyāturasya ca gośatam / sahasraṃ mriyamāṇasya dattaṃ vittavivarjitam

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa phán: Một con bò được bố thí bởi người tâm an tịnh (và thân khỏe) thì bằng một trăm con bò do người bệnh bố thí; và bằng một nghìn con bò khi do người cận tử bố thí—dẫu người ấy không có của cải.

Word by Word

• śrīkṛṣṇaḥ: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• śrīkṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (śrīmān kṛṣṇaḥ)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Speech act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ekā: one
• ekā: Visheshana (Qualifier of gauḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• gauḥ: cow
• gauḥ: Karta (Subject: one cow [as gift])
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• svasthacittasya: of one with a calm/healthy mind
• svasthacittasya: Sambandha (Genitive: of a healthy-minded person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svastha (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (svasthaṃ cittaṃ yasya)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु (indeed)

• āturasya: of a sick person
• āturasya: Sambandha (Genitive: of a sick person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• gośatam: a hundred cows
• gośatam: Pratimana (Comparative measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (gāvaḥ śatam)

• sahasram: a thousand
• sahasram: Pratimana (Comparative measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mriyamāṇasya: of one who is dying
• mriyamāṇasya: Sambandha (Genitive: of a dying person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛ (धातु) → mriyamāṇa (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (of one who is dying)

• dattam: given
• dattam: Karma (Given gift)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (धातु) → datta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (given)

• vittavivarjitam: without wealth (given despite poverty)
• vittavivarjitam: Visheshana (Qualifier of dattaṃ [dānam])
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vittena vivarjitam = devoid of wealth)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as the instructing divine speaker in the text’s dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmaphala of dāna depends on the giver’s state: calm/healthy giving has superior ethical weight; sickness and dying amplify the ‘cost’ and surrender, yet the verse ranks calm-minded giving as intrinsically higher.

Vedantic Theme: Bhāva (inner disposition) and saṅkalpa shape karma; sattvic clarity (prasanna-citta) elevates action; death-proximity intensifies renunciation but may be mixed with fear.

Application: Give when you are well and not pressured; cultivate sattva (clarity) so charity is joyful; keep a portion of resources earmarked for dāna to avoid last-minute compulsion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14.3–4 (further multiplication via rite, tīrtha, pātra; and daily increase of merit)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gauḥ (cow)

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the spiritual weight of go-dāna increases greatly when performed in hardship—especially during illness or at the time of death—highlighting it as a powerful dharmic act linked to merit (puṇya).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

Within Preta-kāṇḍa themes, the verse underscores that timely charity near death strengthens one’s accumulated merit, which the tradition presents as supportive for the departed being (preta) in the post-death passage and judgment of karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice charity consistently while healthy, and if facing illness or end-of-life, prioritize sincere giving within one’s means—supporting care, food, shelter, or traditional dāna—so intention and sacrifice align with dharma.