Shloka 47
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
इत्युक्त: स महातेजा: शुक: पित्रा महात्मना । पूजयामास गां नित्यं तस्मात् त्वमपि पूजय
ity uktaḥ sa mahātejāḥ śukaḥ pitrā mahātmanā | pūjayāmāsa gāṃ nityaṃ tasmāt tvam api pūjaya, yudhiṣṭhira ||
व्यास म्हणाले— महात्मा पित्याने असे सांगितल्यावर महातेजस्वी शुक नित्य गायीची पूजा व सेवा करू लागला. म्हणून तूही, युधिष्ठिरा, दररोज गायींचा मान राखून त्यांची सेवा व संरक्षण कर.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that honoring and caring for cows is a daily dharmic practice. By citing Śuka’s example, Vyāsa urges Yudhiṣṭhira to cultivate reverence, compassion, and protective responsibility toward life-sustaining beings.
Vyāsa narrates that after being instructed by his father (Vyāsa himself), Śuka began to worship/serve the cow every day. Vyāsa then directly exhorts Yudhiṣṭhira to follow the same practice.