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 ||
ବ୍ୟାସ କହିଲେ— ମହାତ୍ମା ପିତାଙ୍କ ଏହି ଉପଦେଶ ଶୁଣି ମହାତେଜସ୍ବୀ ଶୁକ ନିତ୍ୟ ଗୋସେବା-ଗୋପୂଜା କରିଲେ। ତେଣୁ ତୁମେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର, ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଗାଈମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ମାନ କରି ସେବା ଓ ସୁରକ୍ଷା କର।
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.