Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 303
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
आसप्तमं तारयति कुलं भरतसत्तम । भरतश्रेष्ठ) जो गौओंके लिये सर्दी और वर्षासे बचानेवाला सुदृढ़ निवासस्थान बनवाता है, वह अपनी सात पीढ़ियोंका उद्धार कर देता है
āsaptamaṁ tārayati kulaṁ bharatasattama |
Bhīṣma said: “O best of the Bharatas, one who provides a firm shelter for cows—protecting them from cold and the rains—becomes the cause of deliverance for his family up to the seventh generation.” The verse frames compassionate care for cattle as a concrete act of dharma whose merit extends beyond the individual to the lineage.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Providing practical protection and shelter to cows is a high act of dharma; its merit is portrayed as so powerful that it benefits and ‘delivers’ one’s lineage up to seven generations.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he addresses the Bharata king (commonly Yudhishthira) and praises a specific charitable act—building a sturdy refuge for cows against cold and rain—linking it to multi-generational spiritual benefit.