Shloka 9
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
कल्यमुत्थाय गोमध्ये गृह दर्भान् सहोदकान् । निषिज्चेत गवां शुद्ध मस्तकेन च तज्जलम्
kalyam utthāya gomadhye gṛha darbḥān sahodakān | niṣiñcet gavāṁ śuddha mastakena ca taj jalam ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Se levantant de bon matin, on doit aller parmi les vaches, apporter de l’herbe kuśa avec de l’eau, et asperger les vaches. Une fois purifié, on doit aussi asperger de cette eau sa propre tête.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches a simple rule of daily dharmic conduct: begin the day with auspicious, purifying acts connected with reverence for cows—using darbha and water for sprinkling—thereby cultivating ritual cleanliness and a respectful, sattvic disposition.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on proper conduct (anuśāsana), he prescribes a morning practice: rise at dawn, go among the cows, take darbha-grass with water, sprinkle the cows, and then apply that same water to one’s own head as a sign of purification.