Shloka 5

गोप्रदानविधिः (Gopradāna-vidhi) — Procedure and Praise of Cow-Gifting

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्‌ । यथापृच्छत्‌ पद्मयोनिमेतदेव शतक्रतु:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | yathāpṛcchat padmayonim etad eva śatakratuḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“正为此事，博学之士常引一则古老的史传为证。正如昔日百祭主（释迦罗、因陀罗）曾向莲生者（梵天）提出同样的问题，此处亦当如是。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'अत्रापि (atrāpi)', 'definition': 'here also

• in this matter as well'}, {'term': 'उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti)', 'definition': 'they cite

• they adduce as an example'}, {'term': 'इमम् (imam)', 'definition': 'this'}, {'term': 'इतिहासम् (itihāsam)', 'definition': 'traditional account

• ancient narrative/precedent (itihāsa)'}, {'term': 'पुरातनम् (purātanam)', 'definition': 'ancient

• of old'}, {'term': 'यथा (yathā)', 'definition': 'just as'}, {'term': 'अपृच्छत् (apṛcchat)', 'definition': 'asked

• inquired'}, {'term': 'पद्मयोनिम् (padmayonim)', 'definition': 'the lotus-born (epithet of Brahmā)'}, {'term': 'एतद् एव (etad eva)', 'definition': 'this very (same) [question/point]'}, {'term': 'शतक्रतुः (śatakratuḥ)', 'definition': 'the performer of a hundred sacrifices (epithet of Indra)'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Brahmā (Padmayoni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma frames his instruction by appealing to an ancient precedent: ethical and dharmic questions are best clarified through authoritative tradition (itihāsa) and the counsel of the wise, not merely by personal opinion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma tells Yudhiṣṭhira that, regarding the issue under discussion, people traditionally cite an old account: Indra once asked Brahmā the very same question, and that episode will be used as an illustrative example.