Shloka 7
Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Siddha–Śilavṛtti-saṃvāda and Gaṅgā-stava (गङ्गामाहात्म्यं—सिद्ध-शिलवृत्ति-संवादः)
गोकुलस्य तृषार्तस्य जलार्थे वसुधाधिप । उत्पादयति यो विषध्नं त॑ विद्याद् ब्रह्मघातिनम्,'पृथ्वीनाथ! जो प्याससे पीड़ित हुई गौओंके पानी पीनेमें विघ्न डालता है, उसे भी ब्रह्मघाती जाने
gokulasya tṛṣārtasya jalārthe vasudhādhipa | utpādayati yo viṣadhnaṃ taṃ vidyād brahmaghātinam ||
Bhishma said: “O lord of the earth, one who creates a harmful obstruction when a herd of cows, tormented by thirst, seeks water—know that person to be a slayer of a Brahmin.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Preventing thirsty cows from obtaining water is treated as an extremely grave adharma, equated here with brahmahatyā. The verse elevates compassion and protection of the helpless—especially ensuring access to water—as a central ethical duty.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous conduct to the king, he gives a pointed example: if someone causes a deadly or harmful obstruction when a herd of cows seeks water, that person should be regarded as committing a sin comparable to killing a Brahmin.