Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 87
मया च विष्णुना सार्धं शिवेन च महर्षिभिः । विचार्य गोगुणान्नित्यं प्रार्थनेति विधीयते
mayā ca viṣṇunā sārdhaṃ śivena ca maharṣibhiḥ | vicārya goguṇānnityaṃ prārthaneti vidhīyate
Après avoir sans cesse médité les vertus de la vache—par moi, avec Viṣṇu, avec Śiva et avec les grands ṛṣis—il est prescrit que ceci soit une prière.
Skanda (deduced; self-reference 'mayā' within Skanda’s discourse)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis/pilgrims in Kāśī-khaṇḍa frame
Scene: A celestial assembly: Brahmā (or the narrator’s divine voice), Viṣṇu, Śiva, and ṛṣis contemplate the virtues of the cow and formally institute a prayer; manuscripts and sacred fires indicate deliberation.
FAQs
Cow-veneration is upheld as a universally endorsed dharma, affirmed by Śiva, Viṣṇu, sages, and the narrator.
As part of Kāśī Khaṇḍa, the teaching supports Kāśī’s broader framework of dharma, merit, and sacred practice.
A formal prārthanā (prayer) is prescribed, grounded in constant contemplation of the cow’s virtues.