Shloka 44

Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda

Kārttikeya

Devanagari script

अध्यापयेरन्‌ शिष्यान्‌ वै गोमतीं यज्ञसम्मिताम्‌ | त्रिरात्रोपोषितो भूत्वा गोमतीं लभते वरम्‌

Transliteration

adhyāpayeyur śiṣyān vai gomatiṁ yajñasammitām | trirātropoṣito bhūtvā gomatiṁ labhate varam |

Translation

Vyāsa nói: Các Bà-la-môn uyên bác, được rèn luyện vững vàng trong tri thức thiêng và các giới hạnh theo Veda, hãy dạy cho môn đồ Gomati-vidyā—một pháp được xem ngang với tế lễ—dạy trước các ngọn lửa tế tự, giữa lửa và đàn bò, và trong hội chúng Bà-la-môn. Ai nhịn ăn ba đêm và trì tụng thần chú Gomati thì được ban phúc: được bò.

Word by Word

• अध्यापयेरन्: should teach
• अध्यापयेरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अध्यापय् (अधि+आप् caus.)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative (injunctive sense), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शिष्यान्: disciples
• शिष्यान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• गोमतीम्: the (mantra/vidyā) called Gomati
• गोमतीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• यज्ञसम्मिताम्: equal to a sacrifice
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञसम्मिता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिरात्रोपोषितः: having fasted for three nights
• त्रिरात्रोपोषितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिरात्रोपोषित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), Active

• गोमतीम्: Gomati (mantra/vidyā)
• गोमतीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• लभते: obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Lat, Present, 3, Singular, Atmanepada

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• disciples (śiṣya)
• brāhmaṇas
• Gomati-vidyā / Gomati-mantra
• sacred fires (agni)
• cows (go)
• assembly of brāhmaṇas (brāhmaṇa-sabhā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds disciplined transmission of sacred knowledge: qualified brāhmaṇas should teach the Gomati-vidyā in ritually appropriate settings, and sincere austerity—fasting for three nights with mantra-recitation—yields a concrete dharmic fruit, symbolized by the boon of cows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa describes a specific Vedic discipline (Gomati-vidyā/mantra), prescribing how it should be taught (to disciples, amid sacred fires and cows, and in brāhmaṇa assemblies) and stating the result for an observer who performs a three-night fast and recitation: attainment of the ‘boon of cows’.