Adhyaya 31

In this chapter (PP.5.31), following a hell-journey episode, Dharmarāja/Yama teaches that even a highly meritorious Rāma-bhakta may still carry a subtle residue of sin. Here it is traced to having obstructed a grazing cow, which brings the soul into the vicinity of Yama’s city. The narrative then turns to the dhenu-vrata. When Sumati asks about cow-worship, Jābāli lays out daily protective service and ritual feeding. A crisis arises when the protected cow is killed by a lion, prompting questions of prāyaścitta: intentional harm to a cow is treated as virtually inexpiable, while unintentional killing allows atonement. The teaching culminates in counsel to worship Raghunātha, protect cows, and give gold to a brāhmaṇa. Surabhī/Kāmadhenu grants King Ṛtaṃbhara a son devoted to Rāma, and the king attains Hari’s abode.