Shloka 19
श्रीझ्वाच अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि सर्वलोकस्य मानदा: । प्रत्याख्यानेन युष्माकं प्रसाद: क्रियतां मम,लक्ष्मीने कहा--दूसरोंको सम्मान देनेवाली गौओ! तुम्हारे त्याग देनेसे मैं सम्पूर्ण जगत्के लिये अवहेलित और उपेक्षित हो जाऊँगी, इसलिये मुझपर कृपा करो
śrīr uvāca—avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi sarvalokasya mānadāḥ | pratyākhyānena yuṣmākaṃ prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ mama ||
Śrī (Lakṣmī) berkata: “Wahai lembu-lembu yang memuliakan orang lain! Jika kamu menolak dan meninggalkan aku, aku akan dipandang remeh dan diabaikan oleh seluruh dunia. Maka kasihanilah aku—terimalah aku dengan rahmatmu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prosperity and social esteem are shown as relational: Śrī (Lakṣmī) depends on being welcomed and honored by the worthy (here, the cows who ‘give honor’). Rejection of auspiciousness leads to loss of regard in the world; hence one should cultivate receptivity to dharma-aligned prosperity and extend grace rather than contempt.
Within Bhīṣma’s discourse, Śrī (Lakṣmī) addresses the cows, pleading not to be cast off. She argues that if they abandon her, she will become despised by all, and therefore asks them to grant her favor and acceptance.