Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
गाव: शरण्या भूतानामिति वेदविदो विदु: । तस्माद् ददाति यो थेनुं शरणं सम्प्रयच्छति
gāvaḥ śaraṇyā bhūtānām iti vedavido viduḥ | tasmād dadāti yo dhenuṃ śaraṇaṃ samprayacchati ||
毗湿摩说道：“通晓吠陀者宣说：母牛乃一切众生之归依与庇护。故而，布施一头乳牛者，实即赐予庇护——成为他人的守护者与荫蔽之所。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cows are regarded, on Vedic authority, as a universal refuge; hence gifting a milch-cow (go-dāna) is ethically framed as granting protection and shelter to beings, not merely giving property.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma in the Anushasana Parva, he praises the religious and social value of charitable giving, specifically highlighting the gift of a cow as an act equivalent to providing refuge.