Shloka 24
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
अवश्यं मानना कार्या तवास्माभिय्यशस्विनि । शकृन्मूत्रे निवस त्वं पुण्यमेतद्धि नः शुभे
avaśyaṁ mānanā kāryā tavāsmābhir yaśasvini | śakṛn-mūtre nivasa tvaṁ puṇyam etad dhi naḥ śubhe ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô dame illustre, il est assurément de notre devoir de t’honorer. Demeure dans notre bouse et notre urine de vache, ô bienheureuse, car ces deux substances sont tenues par nous pour souverainement purificatrices.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames respect (mānanā) as a duty and links it with traditional notions of ritual purity, affirming that certain substances—here cow-dung and cow-urine—are culturally treated as purifying and therefore worthy of reverent association.
Bhishma addresses an auspicious, illustrious female figure and formally grants her honor while directing her to reside in cow-dung and urine, reflecting a discourse on purity practices and the sanctity attributed to bovine products in dharma-oriented instruction.