Shloka 1
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
भीकम (2 अमान पज्चाशत्तमो<्ध्याय: गौओंकी महिमाके प्रसंगमें च्यवन मुनिके उपाख्यानका आरम्भ
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—darśane kīdṛśaḥ snehaḥ saṃvāse ca pitāmaha? mahābhāgyaṃ gavāṃ caiva tan me vyākhyātum arhasi.
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Lolo, anong uri ng paglingap ang sumisibol sa pagtanaw pa lamang sa isang tao, at anong uri ang lumalago sa pagsasama sa iisang tahanan? At ano ang dakilang pagpapala at sagradong kadakilaan ng mga baka? Ipagpaliwanag mo sa akin ito nang masinsinan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into how human attachment forms—through mere perception versus sustained companionship—and introduces the dharmic theme of the cow’s sanctity and beneficence, inviting a normative explanation from Bhīṣma.
Yudhiṣṭhira begins a new line of questioning to Bhīṣma, asking him to explain the nature of affection and to expound the greatness of cows, which sets up the ensuing discourse and related exemplum (upākhyāna) in the chapter.