Shloka 16
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
प्रभाव एष वो गाव: प्रतिगृह्लीत मामिह । नावमन्या हाहं सौम्यास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे,सौम्य स्वभाववाली गौओ! यह तुम्हारा प्रभाव है कि मैं स्वयं तुम्हारे पास आयी हूँ। अतः तुम मुझे यहाँ ग्रहण करो। चराचर प्राणियोंसहित समस्त त्रिलोकीमें कहीं भी मैं अपमान पानेके योग्य नहीं हूँ
prabhāva eṣa vo gāvaḥ pratigṛhṇīta mām iha | nāvamanyāhaṃ saumyās trailokye sacarācare ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O sanftmütige Kühe, dies ist eure eigene Macht: Ich selbst bin zu euch gekommen. Darum nehmt mich hier an. Nirgends in den drei Welten, mit allen beweglichen und unbeweglichen Wesen, bin ich es wert, mit Verachtung behandelt zu werden.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethic of reverence and non-contempt: beings endowed with sanctity and beneficent power—here, the cows—should be honored. It also conveys that true dignity is maintained by refusing to participate in dishonor, and by recognizing the moral-spiritual potency (prabhāva) present in the righteous.
Bhishma addresses the cows directly, acknowledging that their spiritual efficacy has drawn him to them. He asks them to accept him and asserts that he is not deserving of contempt anywhere in the cosmos, framing the encounter as one governed by dharma and mutual honor.