Shloka 9
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
हृष्ट-पुष्ट, सुलक्षणा, जवान तथा उत्तम गन्धवाली गायकी सभी लोग प्रशंसा करते हैं। जैसे नदियोंमें गंगा श्रेष्ठ हैं, वैसे ही गौओंमें कपिला गौ उत्तम मानी गयी है ।।
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kasmāt samāne bahulāpradāne sadbhiḥ praśastaṃ kapilāpradānam | viśeṣam icchāmi mahāprabhāvaṃ śrotuṃ samartho 'smi bhavān pravaktum ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Lolo, kung ang pag-aalay ng baka—anumang kulay—ay iisa ang diwa at nagdudulot ng saganang gantimpala, bakit lalo pang pinuri ng mga banal ang paghandog ng bakang kapilā (kulay kayumanggi)? Nais kong marinig nang tiyak ang dakila at natatanging kapangyarihan ng handog na iyon. Ako’y may kakayahang makinig, at ikaw ay may kakayahang magpaliwanag.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: even when an act of charity seems generally equivalent (a cow-gift), tradition may recognize specific forms as especially efficacious. It emphasizes discerning the ethical and ritual rationale behind praised practices rather than following them blindly.
During Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira asks why the gifting of a kapilā (tawny) cow is singled out for special praise by the virtuous, and requests Bhīṣma to explain its distinctive spiritual potency.