Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 303
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
आसप्तमं तारयति कुलं भरतसत्तम । भरतश्रेष्ठ) जो गौओंके लिये सर्दी और वर्षासे बचानेवाला सुदृढ़ निवासस्थान बनवाता है, वह अपनी सात पीढ़ियोंका उद्धार कर देता है
āsaptamaṁ tārayati kulaṁ bharatasattama |
毗湿摩说道：“噢，婆罗多族中最卓越者！凡为牛群建造坚固的栖身之所，使其免受寒冷与雨水侵袭者，便能使其家族至第七代得以解脱。”此偈将慈悲护牛视为具体的法行，其功德不止于一身，而延及宗族血脉。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Providing practical protection and shelter to cows is a high act of dharma; its merit is portrayed as so powerful that it benefits and ‘delivers’ one’s lineage up to seven generations.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he addresses the Bharata king (commonly Yudhishthira) and praises a specific charitable act—building a sturdy refuge for cows against cold and rain—linking it to multi-generational spiritual benefit.