Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 80
रोरूयंते च पापानि दारिद्र्यं व्याधिभिः सह । धात्र्यः सर्वस्य लोकस्य गावो मातेव सर्वथा
rorūyaṃte ca pāpāni dāridryaṃ vyādhibhiḥ saha | dhātryaḥ sarvasya lokasya gāvo māteva sarvathā
罪は泣き叫んで逃げ去り、貧しさも病とともに退く。牛は全世界を養う者、あらゆる面で母のごとき存在だからである。
Skanda
Scene: A Kāśī pilgrim stands near a ghat or temple courtyard, offering respectful salutations to a calm cow; dark, smoky forms symbolizing sins and afflictions flee into the distance while a maternal aura surrounds the cow.
FAQs
Protecting and honoring cows is framed as a dharmic force that dispels negativity and supports worldly and spiritual well-being.
The Kāśī Khaṇḍa context emphasizes dharma in Kāśī; the verse itself is a general go-mahātmya teaching.
Implied go-sevā and go-rakṣā (service and protection of cows) as a means to reduce pāpa and misfortune.