Shloka 16
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
प्रभाव एष वो गाव: प्रतिगृह्लीत मामिह । नावमन्या हाहं सौम्यास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
prabhāva eṣa vo gāvaḥ pratigṛhṇīta mām iha | nāvamanyāhaṃ saumyās trailokye sacarācare ||
毗湿摩说道：“温顺的母牛们啊，这正是你们的威力——使我亲自来到你们面前。因此，请在此接纳我。在三界之中，连同一切动与不动的众生，我在任何地方都不该受轻蔑。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethic of reverence and non-contempt: beings endowed with sanctity and beneficent power—here, the cows—should be honored. It also conveys that true dignity is maintained by refusing to participate in dishonor, and by recognizing the moral-spiritual potency (prabhāva) present in the righteous.
Bhishma addresses the cows directly, acknowledging that their spiritual efficacy has drawn him to them. He asks them to accept him and asserts that he is not deserving of contempt anywhere in the cosmos, framing the encounter as one governed by dharma and mutual honor.