Shloka 31
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
येषामधिपति: पूषा मारुतो बलवान् बली । ऐश्वर्ये वरुणो राजा नाममात्र युगन्धरा:
yeṣām adhipatiḥ pūṣā māruto balavān balī | aiśvarye varuṇo rājā nāmamātra yugandharāḥ | narendra! śaktīśālī sūryaḥ balavān vāyuś ca yeṣāṃ lokānām adhipatī, evaṃ rājā varuṇo yeṣāṃ lokānām aiśvarye pratiṣṭhitaḥ, manuṣyo godānaṃ kṛtvā tān eva lokān gacchati | gāvaḥ yugandharāḥ, surūpāḥ, bahurūpāḥ, viśvarūpāḥ tathā sarvāsāṃ mātaraḥ | śukadeva! manuṣyaḥ saṃyama-niyamena vartamānaḥ prajāpati-kathitānām eṣāṃ nāmnāṃ pratidinaṃ japaṃ kuryāt |
व्यास उवाच—नरेन्द्र, येषामधिपतिः पूषा मारुतो बलवान् बली, ऐश्वर्ये च वरुणो राजा; गां दत्त्वा मनुष्यः तान् एव लोकान् अवाप्नोति। गावो युगन्धराः सुरूपाः बहुरूपाः विश्वरूपाश्च सर्वमातरश्च। शुकदेव, यतव्रतः संयमनियमयुक्तः प्रजापतिकथितानि एतानि नामानि नित्यं जपेत्॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that gifting cows (go-dāna) is a high form of dharmic charity that leads to exalted realms associated with major deities, and that disciplined daily recitation of sacred cow-epithets—taught by Prajāpati—supports this ethical-religious practice.
Vyāsa addresses the king and also invokes Śukadeva, explaining the spiritual fruit of go-dāna and listing revered names/epithets of cows, instructing that one should live with restraint and observances and recite these names daily.