Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 6
Śrāddhadeva Manu’s Sons: Pṛṣadhra’s Curse and Renunciation; Genealogies of Nariṣyanta and Diṣṭa
एकां जग्राह बलवान् सा चुक्रोश भयातुरा । तस्यास्तु क्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा पृषध्रोऽनुससार ह ॥ ५ ॥ खड्गमादाय तरसा प्रलीनोडुगणे निशि । अजानन्नच्छिनोद् बभ्रो: शिर: शार्दूलशङ्कया ॥ ६ ॥
ekāṁ jagrāha balavān sā cukrośa bhayāturā tasyās tu kranditaṁ śrutvā pṛṣadhro ’nusasāra ha
Un tigre d’une grande puissance saisit une vache. Terrifiée et souffrante, elle poussa un cri. Entendant cette plainte, Pṛṣadhra suivit aussitôt le son. Il brandit son épée, mais, la nuit étant obscurcie par des nuages qui cachaient les étoiles, il prit la vache pour le tigre et, par méprise, lui trancha la tête d’un coup violent.
FAQs
This verse shows a kṣatriya’s dharma: upon hearing a cow’s cry of fear, Pṛṣadhra immediately pursues the threat to protect her.
He heard the distressed cry of the cow and responded instantly, acting according to the royal duty of protection.
Respond promptly to suffering around you—protect dependents, intervene against harm, and take responsibility rather than remaining indifferent.