Shloka 7
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
गौर्मे माता वृषभ: पिता मे दिवं शर्म जगती मे प्रतिष्ठा । प्रपद्यैवं शर्वरीमुष्य गोषु पुनर्वाणीमुत्सूजेद् गोप्रदाने
bhīṣma uvāca | gaur me mātā vṛṣabhaḥ pitā me divaṃ śarma jagatī me pratiṣṭhā | prapadyaivaṃ śarvarīm uṣya goṣu punar vāṇīm utsṛjed gopradāne ||
“ଗାଈ ମୋର ମାତା, ବୃଷଭ (ବଳଦ) ମୋର ପିତା। ସେମାନେ ମୋତେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ ଓ ଐହିକ ସୁଖ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ; ପୃଥିବୀରେ ମୋର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା ଗାଈ ହିଁ।” ଏପରି କହି ଗାଈମାନଙ୍କ ଶରଣ ନେଇ, ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ମୌନ ଧାରଣ କରି ରାତି କାଟୁ; ପରେ ପ୍ରାତଃ ଗୋଦାନ ସମୟରେ ମୌନ ଭଙ୍ଗ କରି କଥା କହୁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames reverence for cattle—especially the cow—as a dharmic foundation and links charity (go-dāna) with inner discipline: humility, refuge-seeking, and a vow of silence that is broken only at the sacred moment of giving.
Bhishma instructs a ritual procedure connected with go-dāna: the practitioner recites a declaration honoring cow and bull as parental supports, stays the night among cows observing silence, and then breaks silence in the morning specifically at the time of gifting the cow.