Shloka 18
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
सासृजत् सौरभेयीस्तु सुरभिलोकमातृका: । सुवर्णवर्णा: कपिला: प्रजानां वृत्तिधेनव:
sāsṛjat saurabheyīs tu surabhilokamātṛkāḥ | suvarṇavarṇāḥ kapilāḥ prajānāṃ vṛttidhenavaḥ ||
त्या सुरभीने ‘सौरभेयी’ नावाच्या अनेक गौ उत्पन्न केल्या; त्या सर्व जगासाठी मातेसमान होत्या. त्या सुवर्णासारख्या दीप्त वर्णाच्या, कपिला होत्या आणि प्रजांच्या उपजीविकेसाठी दूध देणाऱ्या धेनू होत्या।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical model of dharmic creation: resources (symbolized by cows) are brought forth to nourish and sustain society. It highlights the ideal of providing livelihood and welfare for all beings, framing the cow as a maternal, sustaining presence.
Bhishma describes Surabhi generating many Saurabheyī cows—golden-hued, tawny milch-cows—whose purpose is to support living beings by providing sustenance and livelihood.