Shloka 8
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
स तामेकां निशां गोभि: समसख्य: समव्रत:ः । ऐकात्म्यगमनात् सद्यः कलुषाद् विप्रमुच्यते
sa tām ekāṁ niśāṁ gobhiḥ samasakhyaḥ samavrataḥ | aikātmyagamanāt sadyaḥ kaluṣād vipramucyate ||
Ang sinumang mamuhay sa piling ng mga baka kahit isang gabi lamang, sa diwang pantay na pakikipagkaibigan at kaparehong disiplina—na wari’y nakikiisa sa kanila—ay agad na napapalaya mula sa karumihan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even brief, sincere association with cows—marked by equality, friendliness, and shared restraint—has a purifying effect. The verse emphasizes inner transformation through humility, non-violence, and aligning oneself with a dharmic mode of life (aikātmya: becoming of one purpose).
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma and expiatory/purificatory practices. In this context he states that spending even one night among cows, with a disciplined and respectful attitude, leads to immediate release from impurity.