Shloka 3

Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam

The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting

Devanagari script

श्री: कृत्वेह वपु: कान्‍्तं गोमध्येषु विवेश ह । गावो5थ विस्मितास्तस्या दृष्टवा रूपस्य सम्पदम्‌

Transliteration

śrīḥ kṛtveha vapuḥ kāntaṃ gomadhyeṣu viveśa ha | gāvo 'tha vismitās tasyā dṛṣṭvā rūpasya sampadam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：曾有一次，室利（拉克希米）化作妩媚可亲之形，进入牛群之中。众牛见其容光焕发、姿色圆满，皆惊叹不已。

Word by Word

• श्रीः: Lakṣmī (Fortune-goddess)
• श्रीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा, Active, Absolutive (having done)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• वपुः: body, form
• वपुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कान्तम्: beautiful, charming
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गो-मध्येषु: among/in the midst of the cows
• गो-मध्येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• विवेश: entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• विस्मिताः: astonished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्याः: of her
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा, Active, Absolutive (having seen)

• रूपस्य: of (her) form/beauty
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• सम्पदम्: splendour, excellence, wealth
• सम्पदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• cows (gāvaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Śrī (prosperity/auspiciousness) is portrayed as a living presence that naturally inspires admiration and reverence; the scene subtly supports the ethical idea that what is truly auspicious elevates and harmonizes its surroundings, and it also reinforces the cultural-dharmic sanctity of cows as a fitting locus for auspiciousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Lakṣmī takes on a beautiful form and enters a herd of cows; the cows, seeing her extraordinary splendor, become amazed.