Shloka 7

Devanagari script

मातर: सर्वभूतानां गाव: सर्वसुखप्रदा: । वृद्धिमाकाडुक्षता नित्यं गाव: कार्या: प्रदक्षिणा:,गौएँ सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंकी माता कहलाती हैं। वे सबको सुख देनेवाली हैं। जो अपने अभ्युदयकी इच्छा रखता हो, उसे गौओंको सदा दाहिने करके चलना चाहिये

Transliteration

mātaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ gāvaḥ sarvasukhapradāḥ | vṛddhim ākāṅkṣatā nityaṁ gāvaḥ kāryāḥ pradakṣiṇāḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「牛は一切の生きとし生けるものの母と呼ばれる。すべてに安楽と慰めを与えるからである。ゆえに、繁栄と向上を求める者は、常に牛を敬い、右に置いて礼拝しつつ周回すべきである。」

Word by Word

मातरःmothers

सर्वभूतानाम्of all beings

गावःcows

सर्वसुखप्रदाःbestowers of all happiness

वृद्धिम्prosperity, increase

आकाङ्क्षताby one desiring

नित्यम्always

गावःcows

कार्याःshould be done / ought to be

प्रदक्षिणाःkept on the right / circumambulated keeping to the right

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

cows (gāvaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that honoring and protecting cows is a dharmic act because they are viewed as universal benefactors; reverential circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) symbolizes respect, gratitude, and the pursuit of prosperity through righteous conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on duties and ethical observances; here he highlights the religious-ethical importance of cows and prescribes a customary act of reverence—keeping them to one’s right while circling them.