Shloka 4
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
Devanagari script
गाव ऊचु: कासि देवि कुतो वा त्वं रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । विस्मिता: सम महाभागे तव रूपस्य सम्पदा
Transliteration
gāva ūcuḥ—kāsi devi kuto vā tvaṃ rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi | vismitāḥ sma mahābhāge tava rūpasya sampadā ||
Translation
众牛说道：“女神啊，你是谁？又从何处而来？在这大地之上，你的美貌无与伦比。尊贵的夫人啊，我们因你形容的光华与圆满而惊异不已。”
Word by Word
गावःthe cows
गावः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगो
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
ऊचुःsaid
ऊचुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
काwho (f.)
का:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
असिare
असि:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
देविO goddess
देवि:
TypeNoun
Rootदेवी
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular
कुतःfrom where
कुतः:
Apadana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकुतस्
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormNominative, Singular
रूपेणby (your) form/beauty
रूपेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरूप
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
अप्रतिमाincomparable
अप्रतिमा:
TypeAdjective
Rootअप्रतिमा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
भुविon earth
भुवि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootभू
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
विस्मिताःastonished
विस्मिताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootविस्मित
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
स्मindeed/just (particle)
स्म:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्म
महाभागेO greatly fortunate one
महाभागे:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाभाग
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular
तवof you/your
तव:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
रूपस्यof (your) form/beauty
रूपस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootरूप
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
सम्पदाby the excellence/wealth (of it)
सम्पदा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसम्पद्
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
G
gāvaḥ (the cows)D
devī (a goddess/divine woman)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic speech: approaching the divine with humility, respectful address, and truthful admiration, recognizing extraordinary excellence without envy or aggression.
Within Bhīṣma’s narration, a group of cows encounter a radiant, incomparable divine lady and, struck with wonder, ask her identity and origin while praising her unmatched beauty.