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Shloka 19

Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ

Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers

तासाममृतवर्णानां क्षरन्तीनां समन्ततः । बभूवामृतज: फेन: स्रवन्तीनामिवोर्मिज:

tāsām amṛta-varṇānāṁ kṣarantīnāṁ samantataḥ | babhūvāmṛta-jaḥ phenaḥ sravantīnām ivormijaḥ ||

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Mula sa mga bakang iyon na ang kulay ay tila amṛta (gintong maningning), umaagos ang gatas sa lahat ng dako. Mula sa umaagos na gatas, umangat ang bula—gaya ng bulang isinilang ng mga alon ng ilog.”

तासाम्of those (cows)
तासाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
अमृतवर्णानाम्of (those) having nectar/golden-like color
अमृतवर्णानाम्:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootअमृतवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
क्षरन्तीनाम्of (those) flowing/oozing
क्षरन्तीनाम्:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षर् (धातु) → क्षरन्ती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
समन्ततःon all sides, all around
समन्ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्ततः (अव्यय)
बभूवbecame/arose
बभूव:
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
अमृतजःborn of nectar (i.e., milk/nectar-born)
अमृतजः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअमृतज (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
फेनःfoam
फेनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootफेन (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्रवन्तीनाम्of (those) flowing
स्रवन्तीनाम्:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootस्रु (धातु) → स्रवन्ती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
ऊर्मिजःfrom the wave
ऊर्मिजः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Ablative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
C
cows (gāvaḥ)
M
milk
F
foam
W
waves
R
rivers

Educational Q&A

The verse heightens the auspicious, merit-bearing nature of cows through vivid imagery: their abundant milk is so pure and plentiful that it foams like river-waves. In the Anushasana Parva’s ethical frame, such descriptions support teachings on dharma—especially the sanctity of cows and the spiritual value of honoring and giving them.

Bhishma describes cows of radiant, nectar-like hue whose milk flows in all directions; from that streaming milk, foam rises, compared to foam produced by the waves of rivers.