Shloka 11
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
प्रजा: सृजेति चादिष्ट: पूर्व दक्ष: स्वयम्भुवा । असृजद् वृत्तिमेवाग्रे प्रजानां हितकाम्यया
prajāḥ sṛjeti cādiṣṭaḥ pūrvaṃ dakṣaḥ svayambhuvā | asṛjad vṛttim evāgre prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā ||
Bhīṣma dit : Au commencement, Dakṣa reçut de Svayambhū (le Créateur né de lui-même) cet ordre : « Crée les créatures. » Pourtant, soucieux du bien des êtres, Dakṣa établit d’abord leurs moyens de subsistance, puis seulement entreprit la création de la descendance—montrant que gouverner et fonder un monde commence par garantir la nourriture et le bien-être.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before expanding population or undertaking grand projects, a ruler/creator must first secure vṛtti—sustainable livelihood and support systems—because true dharma prioritizes the welfare and stability of the people.
Bhīṣma recounts an early creation episode: Svayambhū instructs Prajāpati Dakṣa to create beings, but Dakṣa first arranges their livelihood, acting out of concern for their well-being.