Shloka 47
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
इत्युक्त: स महातेजा: शुक: पित्रा महात्मना । पूजयामास गां नित्यं तस्मात् त्वमपि पूजय
ity uktaḥ sa mahātejāḥ śukaḥ pitrā mahātmanā | pūjayāmāsa gāṃ nityaṃ tasmāt tvam api pūjaya, yudhiṣṭhira ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Nang masabihan nang gayon ng kanyang ama na dakila ang loob, si Śuka na maningning ang ningning ay nagsimulang gumalang at maglingkod sa baka araw-araw. Kaya ikaw rin, O Yudhiṣṭhira, ay dapat gumalang at mag-alaga sa mga baka.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that honoring and caring for cows is a daily dharmic practice. By citing Śuka’s example, Vyāsa urges Yudhiṣṭhira to cultivate reverence, compassion, and protective responsibility toward life-sustaining beings.
Vyāsa narrates that after being instructed by his father (Vyāsa himself), Śuka began to worship/serve the cow every day. Vyāsa then directly exhorts Yudhiṣṭhira to follow the same practice.