Shloka 11
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
प्रजा: सृजेति चादिष्ट: पूर्व दक्ष: स्वयम्भुवा । असृजद् वृत्तिमेवाग्रे प्रजानां हितकाम्यया
prajāḥ sṛjeti cādiṣṭaḥ pūrvaṃ dakṣaḥ svayambhuvā | asṛjad vṛttim evāgre prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā ||
भीष्म उवाच—सृष्ट्यादौ स्वयम्भुवा पूर्वं दक्षः प्रजासर्गे नियोजितः—“प्रजाः सृज” इति। स तु प्रजानां हितकाम्यया प्रथमतः तासां वृत्तिमेव निर्ममे, ततः प्रजासर्गं प्रवर्तयामास—इति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before expanding population or undertaking grand projects, a ruler/creator must first secure vṛtti—sustainable livelihood and support systems—because true dharma prioritizes the welfare and stability of the people.
Bhīṣma recounts an early creation episode: Svayambhū instructs Prajāpati Dakṣa to create beings, but Dakṣa first arranges their livelihood, acting out of concern for their well-being.