Shloka 17
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
गाव ऊचु: नावमन्यामहे देवि न त्वां परिभवामहे । अध्रुवा चलचित्तासि ततत्त्वां वर्जयामहे
gāva ūcuḥ—nāvamanyāmahe devi na tvāṃ paribhavāmahe | adhruvā calacittāsi tat tvāṃ varjayāmahe ||
Les vaches dirent : « Ô Déesse, nous ne te méprisons pas et nous ne voulons pas t’outrager. Pourtant nous te quittons, car tu es instable et l’esprit changeant ; tu ne demeures nulle part avec constance. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One may withdraw association without hatred or insult: ethical separation is justified when the other party is unstable and cannot remain steady; respect can be maintained even while choosing distance for dharmic reasons.
The cows address a goddess and clarify their intention: they are not dishonoring her, but are choosing to leave her because she is adhruvā—restless and not settled anywhere—making continued association untenable.