Shloka 3
यज्ञेऽहिंसा-प्राधान्यम्
Primacy of Non-Harm in Sacrificial Ethics
स्वस्ति गोभ्यो<स्तु लोकेषु ततो निर्वचनं कृतम् । हिंसायां हि प्रवृत्तायामाशीरेषा तु कल्पिता
svasti gobhyo 'stu lokeṣu tato nirvacanaṃ kṛtam | hiṃsāyāṃ hi pravṛttāyām āśīr eṣā tu kalpitā |
“ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକରେ ଗାଈମାନଙ୍କର ମଙ୍ଗଳ ହେଉ”—ଏହିପରି କହି ସେ ଘୋଷଣା କଲେ; କାରଣ ହିଂସା ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେବାକୁ ଯାଉଥିବା ସମୟରେ, ଗୋହିତକୁ ସ୍ମରଣ କରାଇ ସେହି କର୍ମକୁ ନିବାରଣ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଏହି ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ରଚିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when violence is imminent, dharma urges restraint: auspicious speech and explicit concern for the welfare of innocents—here symbolized by cows—functions as a moral check against harm (hiṃsā) and a reminder of protective duty.
Bhīṣma explains that a traditional blessing—"May there be welfare for the cows in all the worlds"—was deliberately uttered at the moment violence was about to begin, both as a benediction for cows and as a verbal discouragement or prohibition of the impending act of injury.