Shloka 3
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
सतामर्थे सम्यगुत्पादितो यः स वै क्लृप्त: सम्यगाभ्य: प्रजाभ्य: । तस्मात् पूर्व ह्वादिकालप्रवृत्तं गोदानार्थ शृणु राजन् विध्धि मे
bhīṣma uvāca | satām arthe samyag utpādito yaḥ sa vai klṛptaḥ samyag ābhyaḥ prajābhyaḥ | tasmāt pūrvaṃ hvādikāla-pravṛttaṃ godānārthaṃ śṛṇu rājan viddhi me ||
Bhīṣma dit : « La règle que les sages ont justement mise au jour pour le bien des vertueux est, en vérité, solidement établie aussi pour ce peuple. C’est pourquoi, ô roi, écoute de ma bouche l’excellente procédure du don de vaches, une observance en usage depuis les temps anciens, afin que tu la comprennes. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a dharmic rule formulated for the welfare of the virtuous is also binding and beneficial for society at large; therefore, the king should learn and uphold the anciently sanctioned procedure of cow-gift (godāna) as a model of righteous charity.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on dharma. Here he transitions into explaining the traditional rite and ethical framework of donating cows, urging the king to listen carefully because it is an ancient, authoritative practice taught by sages.