Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
तत्रापि च मया दृष्टा दुह्ममाना पयस्विनी । लक्षितं च मया क्षीरं स्वादुतो हमृतोपमम्,वहाँ मैंने देखा, एक दुधारू गाय दुही जा रही थी। वहीं मैंने दूध देखा, जो स्वादमें अमृतके समान होता है
tatrāpi ca mayā dṛṣṭā duhyamānā payasvinī | lakṣitaṃ ca mayā kṣīraṃ svāduto 'mṛtopamam ||
وہاں میں نے ایک دودھ دینے والی گائے کو دُہتے دیکھا؛ اور میں نے اُس دودھ کو بھی دیکھا—جو ذائقے میں امرت کے مانند تھا۔
वासुदेव उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical appreciation of nurturing, non-harmful sources of sustenance: milk is portrayed as nectar-like, implying that beings who provide life-supporting gifts—especially the cow—deserve protection and respectful treatment within dharma.
Vāsudeva recounts an observation: he sees a milch cow being milked and notes the milk’s sweetness, likening it to nectar. The description functions as a moral illustration within the discourse, drawing attention to the value of such nourishing resources.