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 ||
Wahai yang mulia dan termasyhur, sungguh menjadi kewajiban kami untuk menghormatimu. Tinggallah dalam kotoran sapi dan air kencing kami, wahai yang membawa berkah, sebab kedua hal itu kami pandang sebagai amat menyucikan.
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.