Shloka 88
युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya
तत्र चिह्न महद् राजन्नद्यापि सुमहद् भूशम्,राजन! वहाँ एक पर्वतपर चरनेवाली बछड़ेसहित कपिला गौका विशाल चरणचिह्न आज भी अंकित है। भरतनन्दन! बछड़ेसहित उस गौके चरणचिह्न आज भी वहाँ देखे जाते हैं
tatra cihnaṁ mahad rājan adyāpi sumahad bhūśam | rājan! tatra parvatopari carantyāḥ bacchā-sahitāyāḥ kapilā-gāvaḥ viśālaṁ caraṇa-cihnaṁ adyāpi aṅkitaṁ dṛśyate | bharata-nandana! bacchā-sahitāyāḥ tasyā gāvaḥ caraṇa-cihnāni adyāpi tatra dṛśyante ||
There, O King, a great mark is still seen even today upon the ground. On that mountain, the broad hoofprints of a tawny cow, moving about with her calf, remain imprinted to this day. O delight of the Bharatas, the hoofprints of that cow together with her calf can still be seen there—serving as a lasting sign of what occurred at that place.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the ethical and narrative value of enduring ‘signs’ (cihna): tangible traces in the world can preserve memory of significant events and invite later generations to reflect on dharma and the sanctity associated with certain beings and places.
The speaker points out a physical landmark: the large hoofprints of a tawny cow and her calf on a mountain. He tells the king (and addresses a Bharata prince) that these marks are still visible, functioning as evidence and a commemorative sign connected to the story being recounted.