Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 11
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
आभिषेचनिका भूमिराहरत् सकलौषधी: । गाव: पञ्च पवित्राणि वसन्तो मधुमाधवौ ॥ ११ ॥
ābhiṣecanikā bhūmir āharat sakalauṣadhīḥ gāvaḥ pañca pavitrāṇi vasanto madhu-mādhavau
为行灌顶沐浴之礼，大地女神化身而来，采集一切所需药草灵植。群牛奉上五种净物：乳、酪、酥油、牛尿与牛粪；而春神亦化身，汇聚恰特拉与毗舍迦两月（约四、五月）所生的一切供品。
Pañca-gavya, the five products received from the cow, namely milk, yogurt, ghee, cow dung and cow urine, are required in all ritualistic ceremonies performed according to the Vedic directions. Cow urine and cow dung are uncontaminated, and since even the urine and dung of a cow are important, we can just imagine how important this animal is for human civilization. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, directly advocates go-rakṣya, the protection of cows. Civilized men who follow the system of varṇāśrama, especially those of the vaiśya class, who engage in agriculture and trade, must give protection to the cows. Unfortunately, because people in Kali-yuga are mandāḥ, all bad, and sumanda-matayaḥ, misled by false conceptions of life, they are killing cows in the thousands. Therefore they are unfortunate in spiritual consciousness, and nature disturbs them in so many ways, especially through incurable diseases like cancer and through frequent wars among nations. As long as human society continues to allow cows to be regularly killed in slaughterhouses, there cannot be any question of peace and prosperity.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva explains that for sacred consecration the earth provided all medicinal herbs, cows provided five purifying substances (pañca-pavitrāṇi), and spring (Madhu and Mādhava) also contributed—showing that nature itself supports divine worship.
The verse refers to pañca-pavitrāṇi supplied by cows—commonly understood in Vedic usage as pañcagavya (milk, curd, ghee, urine, and dung), used for ritual purity and sanctification.
It teaches reverence for nature’s sacred role—using pure, sattvic resources with gratitude, and recognizing that purification (outer and inner) supports devotion and spiritual focus.