Shloka 176
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
अदेया नन्दिनीयं वै राज्येनापि तवानघ । वसिष्ठजीने कहा--अनघ! देवता, अतिथि और पितरोंकी पूजा एवं यज्ञके हविष्य आदिके लिये यह दुधारू गाय नन्दिनी अपने यहाँ रहती है, इसे तुम्हारा राज्य लेकर भी नहीं दिया जा सकता
adeyā nandinīyaṁ vai rājyena api tavānagha |
婆悉吒说道：“无垢者啊，此母牛难陀尼（Nandinī）不可赠与——纵以你整个王国相易，也断不可得。她留在此处，为的是神圣之用：供奉诸天、礼敬宾客、祭祀祖灵，以及在祭仪中奉献供物（havis）。因此，即便王权在手，也买不走她。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Certain things are protected by dharma and sacred obligation and therefore cannot be traded, even for immense worldly gain. Vasiṣṭha frames Nandinī as integral to worship, hospitality, ancestral rites, and sacrifice—duties that uphold social and cosmic order—so political power cannot override religious-ethical responsibility.
Vasiṣṭha refuses to part with his cow Nandinī. He declares that she is indispensable for ritual and moral duties (devatā-pūjā, honoring guests, pitṛ-kārya, and sacrificial offerings), and thus cannot be surrendered even if offered a kingdom in return.