Shloka 33
Go-apahāra (Cattle Theft), Go-dāna (Cow-Gift), and Suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā (Gold Fee): Karmic Consequence and Purificatory Merit
ददृशुस्ते महाकायं कृकलासमवस्थितम् । वहाँ रहनेवाले यदुवंशी बालक उस कुएँका जल पीनेकी इच्छासे बड़े परिश्रमके साथ उस घास-फ़ूसको हटानेके लिये महान् प्रयत्न करने लगे। इतनेहीमें उस कुएँके ढँके हुए जलनमें स्थित हुए एक विशालकाय गिरगिटपर उनकी दृष्टि पड़ी
dadṛśus te mahākāyaṁ kṛkalāsam avasthitam | pradāna-phalavat tatra drohas tatra tathā-phalaḥ | apacāraṁ gavāṁ tasmād varjayet yudhiṣṭhira ||
毗湿摩说道：他们在那里看见一只巨大的蜥蜴伏卧其中。在那段因缘里，害人之果与其行相称，正如布施自有其报。故而，尤提希提罗啊，当远离一切加害于牛之罪：施牛得上妙功德，而对牛怀敌意或加以伤害，则招致极大的恶报。叙事亦申明：与贤善者相交从不徒然——因与高贵之士相接，尼伽王亦得脱离地狱。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions bear corresponding results: charity—especially the gift of cows—brings great merit, while harming or offending cows brings severe demerit; hence one should avoid any misconduct toward cows.
In the account alluded to by Bhishma, a gigantic lizard is seen (connected with King Nṛga’s fate). Bhishma uses this episode to illustrate karmic retribution and the saving power of contact with the virtuous, concluding with an ethical injunction against harming cows.