Shloka 18
गोशकृन्माहात्म्य-प्रश्नः (On the Merit of Cow-Dung and the Abode of Śrī) / Inquiry into the Sanctity of Cow-Dung
गाक्ष संकीर्तयेन्नित्यं नावमन्येत तास्तथा । अनिष्टं स्वप्रमालक्ष्य गां नर: सम्प्रकीर्तयेत्,“प्रतिदिन गौओंका नाम ले। उनका कभी अपमान न करे। यदि बुरे स्वप्न दिखायी दें तो मनुष्य गोमाताका नाम ले
gāḥ saṅkīrtayen nityaṃ nāvamanyeta tāstathā | aniṣṭaṃ svapnam ālakṣya gāṃ naraḥ samprakīrtayet ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Araw-araw ay bigkasin at alalahanin ang mga pangalan ng mga baka, at huwag silang hamakin kailanman. Kapag nakakita ng masamang panaginip, agad na banggitin ng tao ang pangalan ng baka—alalahanin ang ‘Inang Baka’ nang may paggalang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain daily reverent remembrance and praise of cows, never disrespect them, and use the cow’s name as a protective, auspicious invocation when confronted with ominous signs such as bad dreams.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he prescribes a practical rule of conduct: regular devotional recitation regarding cows, avoidance of contempt toward them, and a remedial act—invoking the cow—upon seeing an inauspicious dream.