Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 10
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
श्रूयन्ते यानि तीर्थानि त्रिषु लोकेषु कानिचित्
śrūyante yāni tīrthāni triṣu lokeṣu kānicit | teṣu sarveṣu yat puṇyaṁ snānāt prāpnoti mānavaḥ || gośṛṅgajalasekena mastakasya tad eva hi ||
毗湿摩说道：“凡三界之中所闻诸圣渡（tīrtha）——为成就者（Siddha）、天界歌咏者（Cāraṇa）与大圣仙所敬奉、所游履者——遍浴彼等一切圣地所得之功德，亦可同等由以触及牛角之水洒灌己首而得。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sincere, dharmic reverence—here expressed through a simple purificatory act involving the cow—can yield merit comparable to extensive pilgrimage bathing. It emphasizes accessibility of religious merit through humble, respectful practice.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and religious duties. Here he praises the sanctity associated with the cow, stating that sprinkling one’s head with water that has touched a cow’s horns grants the same merit as bathing in all renowned tīrthas across the three worlds.