Shloka 9
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
कल्यमुत्थाय गोमध्ये गृह दर्भान् सहोदकान् । निषिज्चेत गवां शुद्ध मस्तकेन च तज्जलम्
kalyam utthāya gomadhye gṛha darbḥān sahodakān | niṣiñcet gavāṁ śuddha mastakena ca taj jalam ||
Bhīṣma said: “Rising early in the morning, one should go among the cows, bring kuśa-grass together with water, and sprinkle the cows. Being purified, one should also sprinkle that water upon one’s own head.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches a simple rule of daily dharmic conduct: begin the day with auspicious, purifying acts connected with reverence for cows—using darbha and water for sprinkling—thereby cultivating ritual cleanliness and a respectful, sattvic disposition.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on proper conduct (anuśāsana), he prescribes a morning practice: rise at dawn, go among the cows, take darbha-grass with water, sprinkle the cows, and then apply that same water to one’s own head as a sign of purification.