Shloka 1
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
ऑपन--+ह< बक। है २ >> द्रयशीतितमो< ध्याय: लक्ष्मी और गौओंका संवाद तथा लक्ष्मीकी प्रार्थनापर गौओंके द्वारा गोबर और गोमूत्रमें लक्ष्मीको निवासके लिये स्थान दिया जाना युधिछिर उवाच मया गवां पुरीषं वै श्रिया जुष्टमिति श्रुतम् एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं संशयो5त्र पितामह
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: mayā gavāṁ purīṣaṁ vai śriyā juṣṭam iti śrutam; etad icchāmy ahaṁ śrotuṁ saṁśayo ’tra pitāmaha.
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: “Abuelo, he oído que el estiércol de las vacas está en verdad agraciado por Śrī (Lakṣmī). Sin embargo, tengo una duda sobre este asunto. Por ello deseo escuchar de ti la explicación verdadera.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dhārmic inquiry: even when a belief is received through tradition (“I have heard”), one should seek clarification from an authoritative elder/teacher to remove doubt and understand the principle correctly.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and asks him to explain a received teaching: that Lakṣmī (Śrī, prosperity) is said to dwell in cow dung. He admits his doubt and requests a truthful account.