Shloka 23
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
एवमुक्तास्ततो गाव: शुभा: करुणवत्सला: । सम्मन्त्रय सहिता: सर्वा: श्रियमूचुर्नराधिप
evam uktās tato gāvaḥ śubhāḥ karuṇavatsalāḥ | sammantrya sahitāḥ sarvāḥ śriyam ūcur narādhipa || nareśvara! lakṣmīke evaṃ vacane karuṇā-vātsalya-mūrtayaḥ śubhasvarūpā gāvaḥ ekatra miltvā mantrayitvā punaḥ sarvā lakṣmīm ūcuḥ—
Bhīṣma dit : Lorsque Lakṣmī eut parlé ainsi, les vaches de bon augure — incarnation de la compassion et de la tendresse maternelle — se rassemblèrent toutes, délibérèrent d’un même esprit, puis s’adressèrent de nouveau à Lakṣmī. (Ô roi, c’est l’instant où, émues de miséricorde et soucieuses du dharma, elles se préparent à répondre d’une seule voix.)
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic decision-making rooted in compassion: the cows, symbols of nurturing and non-harm, do not react individually but consult together and respond in a unified, thoughtful manner—suggesting that ethical speech and action should arise from collective deliberation and mercy.
After Lakshmi has spoken, the cows—described as auspicious and deeply compassionate—assemble, deliberate among themselves, and then address Lakshmi again, setting up their collective reply in the subsequent lines.