Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
अध्यापयेरन् शिष्यान् वै गोमतीं यज्ञसम्मिताम् | त्रिरात्रोपोषितो भूत्वा गोमतीं लभते वरम्
adhyāpayeyur śiṣyān vai gomatiṁ yajñasammitām | trirātropoṣito bhūtvā gomatiṁ labhate varam |
ಅವರು ಶಿಷ್ಯರಿಗೆ ಯಜ್ಞಸಮಾನವಾದ ಗೋಮತೀ-ವಿದ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಬೋಧಿಸಲಿ. ಮೂರು ರಾತ್ರಿ ಉಪವಾಸವಿದ್ದು ಗೋಮತೀಮಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ಜಪಿಸಿದವನು ಹಸುಗಳ ವರವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ.
व्यास उवाच
The verse upholds disciplined transmission of sacred knowledge: qualified brāhmaṇas should teach the Gomati-vidyā in ritually appropriate settings, and sincere austerity—fasting for three nights with mantra-recitation—yields a concrete dharmic fruit, symbolized by the boon of cows.
Vyāsa describes a specific Vedic discipline (Gomati-vidyā/mantra), prescribing how it should be taught (to disciples, amid sacred fires and cows, and in brāhmaṇa assemblies) and stating the result for an observer who performs a three-night fast and recitation: attainment of the ‘boon of cows’.