Shloka 18
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
सासृजत् सौरभेयीस्तु सुरभिलोकमातृका: । सुवर्णवर्णा: कपिला: प्रजानां वृत्तिधेनव:
sāsṛjat saurabheyīs tu surabhilokamātṛkāḥ | suvarṇavarṇāḥ kapilāḥ prajānāṃ vṛttidhenavaḥ ||
Surabhī kemudian melahirkan banyak sapi yang disebut Saurabheyī—laksana ibu bagi segenap dunia. Mereka bercahaya keemasan, berwarna tawny, dan menjadi sapi perah penopang kehidupan yang memberi nafkah serta pemeliharaan bagi makhluk.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical model of dharmic creation: resources (symbolized by cows) are brought forth to nourish and sustain society. It highlights the ideal of providing livelihood and welfare for all beings, framing the cow as a maternal, sustaining presence.
Bhishma describes Surabhi generating many Saurabheyī cows—golden-hued, tawny milch-cows—whose purpose is to support living beings by providing sustenance and livelihood.