Shloka 121

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

गवां शतसहस्रेभ्यो दद्यादेकां पयस्विनीम् । पुत्रान्दारांस्तथा भृत्यान् गौरेका प्रतितारयेत् ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

gavāṃ śatasahasrebhyo dadyādekāṃ payasvinīm | putrāndārāṃstathā bhṛtyān gaurekā pratitārayet || 121 ||

Translation

纵有百千群牛，亦当布施一头乳牛；仅此一牛，亦能助其子嗣、妻室与仆从同渡轮回之险。

Word by Word

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• शतसहस्रेभ्यः: from hundreds and thousands (of them)
• शतसहस्रेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन; 'from hundreds and thousands' (collective)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पयस्विनीम्)

• पयस्विनीम्: a milk-giving cow
• पयस्विनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (a milch cow)

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• दारान्: wife/wives (household)
• दारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• भृत्यान्: servants
• भृत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• गौः: a cow
• गौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एका: single/one
• एका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying गौः)

• प्रतितारयेत्: should ferry across/save
• प्रतितारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + तॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच् (causative sense implied: 'cause to cross')

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dana-phala / tirtha-mahatmya discourse; traditional frame often transmitted via Suta)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

The verse elevates go-dana—especially gifting a milk-yielding cow—as a high-merit act of Dharma whose spiritual fruit is protective and salvific, benefiting not only the donor but also the donor’s household and dependents.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While framed as charity, the verse supports Bhakti by emphasizing selfless giving and protection of life; such sattvic dana purifies the heart and becomes an offering aligned with Vishnu-oriented Dharma in the Narada Purana’s ethical vision.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Kalpa (ritual and dharma procedure) through dana-vidhi principles—what to give (a payasvinī cow) and the intended dharmic outcome (pāvanatva and protection of dependents), rather than technical grammar or astrology.