Shloka 47
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
इत्युक्त: स महातेजा: शुक: पित्रा महात्मना । पूजयामास गां नित्यं तस्मात् त्वमपि पूजय,युधिष्ठिर! अपने महात्मा पिता व्यासजीके ऐसा कहनेपर महातेजस्वी शुकदेवजी प्रतिदिन गौकी सेवा-पूजा करने लगे; इसलिये तुम भी गौओंकी सेवा-पूजा करो
ity uktaḥ sa mahātejāḥ śukaḥ pitrā mahātmanā | pūjayāmāsa gāṃ nityaṃ tasmāt tvam api pūjaya, yudhiṣṭhira ||
Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by his great-souled father, the radiant Śuka began to honor and serve the cow every day. Therefore you too, O Yudhiṣṭhira, should honor and care for cows.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that honoring and caring for cows is a daily dharmic practice. By citing Śuka’s example, Vyāsa urges Yudhiṣṭhira to cultivate reverence, compassion, and protective responsibility toward life-sustaining beings.
Vyāsa narrates that after being instructed by his father (Vyāsa himself), Śuka began to worship/serve the cow every day. Vyāsa then directly exhorts Yudhiṣṭhira to follow the same practice.