महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-65, verse-49

न वधार्थं प्रदातव्या न कीनाशे न नास्तिके ।
गोजीविने न दातव्या तथा गौः पुरुषर्षभ ॥४९॥

49. na vadhārthaṁ pradātavyā na kīnāśe na nāstike ,
gojīvine na dātavyā tathā gauḥ puruṣarṣabha.

49. na vadhārtham pradātavyā na kīnāśe na nāstike
| gojīvine na dātavyā tathā gauḥ puruṣarṣabha

49. puruṣarṣabha gauḥ vadhārtham na pradātavyā na
kīnāśe na nāstike tathā gojīvine na dātavyā

49. A cow should not be given for slaughter, nor to a miser, nor to an atheist. Similarly, O best among men (puruṣa), a cow should not be given to one who earns a livelihood from cows.

Words meanings summery:

• न (na) - not, nor, no

• वधार्थम् (vadhārtham) - for the purpose of slaughter, for killing

• प्रदातव्या (pradātavyā) - should be given, ought to be given

• न (na) - not, nor, no

• कीनाशे (kīnāśe) - to a miser, to a contemptible person

• न (na) - not, nor, no

• नास्तिके (nāstike) - to an atheist, to a non-believer

• गोजीविने (gojīvine) - to one who earns a livelihood from cows (to one who lives by cows (i.e., makes a livelihood from them), to a cowherd or dairy farmer)

• न (na) - not, nor, no

• दातव्या (dātavyā) - should be given, ought to be given

• तथा (tathā) - similarly, thus, and so, likewise

• गौः (gauḥ) - a cow

• पुरुषर्षभ (puruṣarṣabha) - O best of men, O chief among men

Words meanings and morphology

न (na) - not, nor, no

(indeclinable)

वधार्थम् (vadhārtham) - for the purpose of slaughter, for killing

(indeclinable)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vadha+artha)

• vadha – slaughter, killing, striking
  noun (masculine)
  From root han 'to strike, kill'
  Root: han (class 2)
• artha – purpose, meaning, object, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Adverbial accusative.

प्रदातव्या (pradātavyā) - should be given, ought to be given

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of dā

dā - to give, to grant, to bestow

Gerundive (Kartavya / Tavya suffix)

Gerundive from pra-dā indicating obligation or fitness.

Prefix: pra

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: A verbal adjective, functions as predicate.

न (na) - not, nor, no

(indeclinable)

कीनाशे (kīnāśe) - to a miser, to a contemptible person

(noun)

Dative, masculine, singular of kīnāśa

kīnāśa - miser, ignoble person, cultivator, husbandman

Root: kṛṣ (class 1)

Note: Recipient of the implied action of giving.

न (na) - not, nor, no

(indeclinable)

नास्तिके (nāstike) - to an atheist, to a non-believer

(noun)

Dative, masculine, singular of nāstika

nāstika - atheist, unbeliever, one who denies the authority of the Vedas or existence of God

Derived from nāsti (is not) + ka suffix.

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Recipient of the implied action of giving.

गोजीविने (gojīvine) - to one who earns a livelihood from cows (to one who lives by cows (i.e., makes a livelihood from them), to a cowherd or dairy farmer)

(noun)

Dative, masculine, singular of gojīvin

gojīvin - living by cows, a cowherd, dairy farmer

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (go+jīvin)

• go – cow
  noun (feminine)
• jīvin – living, subsisting, one who lives by
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jīv 'to live'
  Root: jīv (class 1)

Note: Recipient of the implied action of giving.

न (na) - not, nor, no

(indeclinable)

दातव्या (dātavyā) - should be given, ought to be given

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of dā

dā - to give, to grant, to bestow

Gerundive (Tavya suffix)

Gerundive from dā indicating obligation or fitness.

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: A verbal adjective, functions as predicate.

तथा (tathā) - similarly, thus, and so, likewise

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects the prohibitions.

गौः (gauḥ) - a cow

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of go

go - cow, bull, ox, earth, ray of light

Root: gam (class 1)

पुरुषर्षभ (puruṣarṣabha) - O best of men, O chief among men

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of puruṣarṣabha

puruṣarṣabha - best of men, chief of men

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (puruṣa+ṛṣabha)

• puruṣa – man, person, male, human being, the supreme cosmic person
  noun (masculine)
• ṛṣabha – bull, chief, best, excellent
  noun (masculine)

Note: Addressed to a specific 'best of men', likely Arjuna or a king.

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