Shloka 44
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
ये जीर्यन्ते ब्रह्मचर्येण विप्रा बा्मीं वाचं परिरक्षन्ति चैव । मनस्थविनस्तीर्थयात्रापरायणा- स्ते तत्र मोदन्ति गवां निवासे
ye jīryante brahmacaryeṇa viprā brāhmīṁ vācaṁ parirakṣanti caiva | manasvino tīrthayātrāparāyaṇās te tatra modanti gavāṁ nivāse ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Those brāhmaṇas who grow old while steadfastly observing brahmacarya, who continually preserve the sacred Vedic speech, and those resolute men devoted to pilgrimage—such persons rejoice there, in that abode of the cows (Goloka).”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises three dharmic commitments—lifelong brahmacarya (self-restraint), preservation of Vedic speech (protecting and transmitting sacred learning), and dedicated pilgrimage—as sources of spiritual merit leading to joy in the blessed realm associated with cows (Goloka).
Dhṛtarāṣṭra continues describing who attains and enjoys the exalted ‘abode of cows.’ He identifies exemplary brāhmaṇas—ascetics, guardians of Vedic tradition, and devoted pilgrims—as those who rejoice there.