Shloka 18

Devanagari script

सासृजत्‌ सौरभेयीस्तु सुरभिलोकमातृका: । सुवर्णवर्णा: कपिला: प्रजानां वृत्तिधेनव:,उस सुरभिने बहुत-सी 'सौरभेयी” नामवाली गौओंको उत्पन्न किया, जो सम्पूर्ण जगतके लिये माताके समान थीं। उन सबका रंग सुवर्णके समान उद्दीप्त हो रहा था। वे कपिला गौएँ प्रजाजनोंके लिये आजीविकारूप दूध देनेवाली थीं

Transliteration

sāsṛjat saurabheyīs tu surabhilokamātṛkāḥ | suvarṇavarṇāḥ kapilāḥ prajānāṃ vṛttidhenavaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Surabhi brought forth many cows known as Saurabheyīs—like mothers to the world—radiant with a golden hue, tawny in color, and serving as sustaining milch-cows that provide livelihood and nourishment to living beings.

Word by Word

साshe (Surabhi)

असृजत्created, produced

सौरभेयीःSaurabheyī cows (descendants of Surabhi)

तुindeed, but

सुरभि-लोक-मातृकाःhaving Surabhi-world as (their) mother; mother-like for Surabhi’s world

सुवर्ण-वर्णाःgolden-colored

कपिलाःtawny, reddish-brown (cows)

प्रजानाम्of creatures/subjects

वृत्ति-धेनवःcows that are a means of livelihood (milk-giving sustainers)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma (speaker)

Surabhi

Saurabheyī cows

Kapilā cows

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical model of dharmic creation: resources (symbolized by cows) are brought forth to nourish and sustain society. It highlights the ideal of providing livelihood and welfare for all beings, framing the cow as a maternal, sustaining presence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes Surabhi generating many Saurabheyī cows—golden-hued, tawny milch-cows—whose purpose is to support living beings by providing sustenance and livelihood.