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Shloka 19

Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ

Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers

तासाममृतवर्णानां क्षरन्तीनां समन्ततः । बभूवामृतज: फेन: स्रवन्तीनामिवोर्मिज:

tāsām amṛta-varṇānāṁ kṣarantīnāṁ samantataḥ | babhūvāmṛta-jaḥ phenaḥ sravantīnām ivormijaḥ ||

قال بهيشما: «ومن تلك الأبقار، التي كان لونها كالأَمْرِتَا (ذهبياً مشرقاً)، كان اللبن يفيض من كل جانب. ومن ذلك اللبن المنساب ارتفعت رغوة—كما تولد الرغوة من أمواج الأنهار.»

तासाम्of those (cows)
तासाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
अमृतवर्णानाम्of (those) having nectar/golden-like color
अमृतवर्णानाम्:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootअमृतवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
क्षरन्तीनाम्of (those) flowing/oozing
क्षरन्तीनाम्:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षर् (धातु) → क्षरन्ती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
समन्ततःon all sides, all around
समन्ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्ततः (अव्यय)
बभूवbecame/arose
बभूव:
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
अमृतजःborn of nectar (i.e., milk/nectar-born)
अमृतजः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअमृतज (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
फेनःfoam
फेनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootफेन (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्रवन्तीनाम्of (those) flowing
स्रवन्तीनाम्:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootस्रु (धातु) → स्रवन्ती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
ऊर्मिजःfrom the wave
ऊर्मिजः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Ablative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
C
cows (gāvaḥ)
M
milk
F
foam
W
waves
R
rivers

Educational Q&A

The verse heightens the auspicious, merit-bearing nature of cows through vivid imagery: their abundant milk is so pure and plentiful that it foams like river-waves. In the Anushasana Parva’s ethical frame, such descriptions support teachings on dharma—especially the sanctity of cows and the spiritual value of honoring and giving them.

Bhishma describes cows of radiant, nectar-like hue whose milk flows in all directions; from that streaming milk, foam rises, compared to foam produced by the waves of rivers.