Shloka 1
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
अपन क्ाा बछ। 2 सप्तसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: कपिला गौओंकी उत्पत्ति और महिमाका वर्णन वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो युधिष्ठटिरो राजा भूय: शान्तनवं नृपम् | गोदानविस्तरं धर्मान् पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर राजा युधिष्ठिरने पुनः शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मसे गोदानकी विस्तृत विधि तथा तत्सम्बन्धी धर्मोके विषयमें विनयपूर्वक जिज्ञासा की
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Tato Yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhūyaḥ Śāntanavaṃ nṛpam |
Godāna-vistaraṃ dharmān papraccha vinayānvitaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thereafter King Yudhiṣṭhira, with humility, again questioned the royal son of Śantanu (Bhīṣma) about the detailed procedure of gifting cows and the dharmic principles connected with that act—seeking clarity on its proper performance and ethical significance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dāna (charitable giving) is not merely an act of generosity but a dharmic practice that requires correct understanding of its rules, intentions, and context; Yudhiṣṭhira’s respectful inquiry highlights that ethical merit depends on informed and humble adherence to dharma.
After earlier instructions, Yudhiṣṭhira again approaches Bhīṣma and asks him to explain in detail the procedure and principles of go-dāna (gifting cows), setting up the ensuing discourse on the origin, greatness, and religious-ethical value of cows and cow-gifts.