Shloka 23
गोशकृन्माहात्म्य-प्रश्नः (On the Merit of Cow-Dung and the Abode of Śrī) / Inquiry into the Sanctity of Cow-Dung
गावो मामुपतिष्ठन्तु हेमशूड्ग्य: पयोमुच: । सुरभ्य: सौरभेय्यश्व सरित: सागरं यथा,“जैसे नदियाँ समुद्रके पास जाती हैं, उसी तरह सोनेसे मढ़ी हुई सींगोंवाली, दूध देनेवाली सुरभी और सौरभेयी गौएँ मेरे निकट आयें
gāvo mām upatiṣṭhantu hemaśṛṅgyāḥ payomucaḥ | surabhyaḥ saurabheyyāś ca saritaḥ sāgaraṃ yathā ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Semoga lembu-lembu—bertanduk bersalut emas, memancurkan susu, daripada keturunan Surabhi dan Saurabheya—datang berdiri dekatku, sebagaimana sungai-sungai mengalir menuju dan sampai ke lautan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates the cow as an emblem of dharmic prosperity and merit: to be attended by auspicious, well-cared-for cows (even imagined with gold-adorned horns) signifies the fruit of righteous conduct and generosity, especially the traditional virtue of honoring and gifting cows.
Bhishma, speaking in the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, utters a benedictive wish: that auspicious cows of revered lineage come near him, compared to rivers naturally converging upon the ocean—an image of inevitable approach and fulfillment.