Shloka 12
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
व्यास उवाच गाव: प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां तथा गाव: परायणम् । गाव: पुण्या: पवित्राश्व गोधनं पावनं तथा
vyāsa uvāca gāvaḥ pratiṣṭhā bhūtānāṃ tathā gāvaḥ parāyaṇam | gāvaḥ puṇyāḥ pavitrāś ca godhanaṃ pāvanaṃ tathā ||
வியாசர் கூறினார்—பசுக்கள் எல்லா உயிர்களுக்கும் ஆதாரம்; அவையே பரம அடைக்கலம். பசுக்கள் புண்ணியமயமும் தூய்மையும் உடையவை; கோதனமும் புனிதப்படுத்துவதாகும்.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that cows and cattle-wealth are to be regarded as sustaining and purifying, supporting life and dharmic order; honoring and protecting them is presented as ethically and religiously meritorious.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Vyāsa speaks in praise of cows, framing them as a universal support for beings and as a source of purity and merit, reinforcing norms of dharma related to protection and reverence.