Chapter 53

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

एवम् उक्ता वसिष्ह्ठेन श्हबला श्हत्रु सूदन
विदधे कामधुक् कामान् यस्य यस्य ईप्सितम् यथा

evam uktā vasiṣhṭhena śhabalā śhatru sūdana
vidadhe kāmadhuk kāmān yasya yasya īpsitam yathā

SYNONYMS

śatru sūdana: oh, enemy-chastener, Rama | vasiṣṭhena evam uktā: by Vashishta, this way, [she who is] spoken to | kāmadhuk: desire, milker | śabalā = cov vith amazing coloured skin: Shabala | yasya yasya yathā īpsitam: whose, whose, as to how, fancied | kāmān: fancies | vidadhe: bestowed. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, enemy-chastener Rama, when the Divine Cow Shabala is spoken in this way by Sage Vashishta, then that milker bestowed each and every fancy, fancied by each and every fancier, according to one's own fancy." Thus Sage Shataananda continued the legend of Shabala or Kaamadhenu, as a part of the legend of Vishvamitra to Rama and others. [1-53-1]

VERSE 2

इक्ष्हून् मधून् तथा लाजान् मैरेयान् छ वर आसवान्
पानानि छ महाअर्हाणि भक्ष्ह्यान् छ उछ्छ अवछान् तथा

ikṣhūn madhūn tathā lājān maireyān cha vara āsavān
pānāni cha mahāarhāṇi bhakṣhyān cha uchcha avachān tathā

SYNONYMS

ikṣūn madhūn tathā lājān: sugar-cane [and its dishes,] honey [and its dishes,] like that, cornflakes, [rice-flakes etc.,] | vara āsavān [āsanān]: best, liquors [or, with best wineglasses] | maireyān ca: arracks [Arabic 'arak 'sweat', 'arak al-tamr 'alcoholic spirit from dates in Arabia, and from sugar-cane and rice in India,] also | mahā arhāṇi pānāni ca: highly [very,] apposite to [royalties and army-men,] drinks, further | tathā: like that | ucca avacān: verily, diverse | bhakṣyān ca: foodstuffs, also | [śabala vidadhe: Shabala, bestowed.] |

TRANSLATION

Shabala bestowed dishes of sugar cane and honey, and flakes of all sorts, like cornflakes, rice-flakes, also best arracks and liquors in best wineglasses, further, the drinks and foodstuffs that are very diverse and verily apposite to royalties and army-men. [1-53-2]

VERSE 3

उष्ह्ण आढ्यस्य ओदनस्य अपि राश्हयः पर्वतोपमाः
मृष्ह्ट अन्नानि छ सूपाः छ दधि कुल्याः तथैव छ

uṣhṇa āḍhyasya odanasya api rāśhayaḥ parvatopamāḥ
mṛṣhṭa annāni cha sūpāḥ cha dadhi kulyāḥ tathaiva cha

SYNONYMS

[atra: there] | uṣṇa āḍhyasya odanasya api: heat, rich in [steamy,] foods, even | parvata upamāḥ rāśayaḥ = mountain, similar, stacks: have come up | mṛṣṭa annāni ca: palatable, foodstuffs [side dishes, desserts of rice,] also | sūpāḥ ca: cooked pulse's dumplings, also | tathaiva: like that | dadhi kulyāḥ ca: curds, cascades of, also | nānā svādu rasānām ca: varied, daintily, soft-drinks, also | khāṇḍavanām: sugar-candies, [or, SaaDabaanaam = juices with six kinds of tastes] | tathaiva ca: like that, also | su pūrṇāni: fully, replete with | bhājanāni: dishes, [silver hollowware | or, bhojanāni: delectable foodstuffs | ] gauḍāni ca: [foodstuffs made from the] treacly dumplings of cane sugar, also | sahasraśaḥ: in thousands |

TRANSLATION

There emerged mountainous stacks of steamy foodstuffs, palatable side-dishes and desserts of rice etc., also the dumplings of cooked pulses, like that the cascades of curds and the other milk products likes butter, ghee, cheese etc. Thousands of silver dishes and hollowware fully replete with daintily soft drinks, like that full with sugar-candy preparations, and with preparations that comprise all the six tastes have come up together with delectable foodstuffs made out of treacly dumplings of cane sugar. [1-53-3, 4]

VERSE 5

सर्वम् आसीत् सुसंतुष्ह्टम् हृष्ह्ट पुष्ह्ट जन आयुतम्
विश्ह्वामित्र बलम् राम वसिष्ह्ठेन सुतर्पितम्

sarvam āsīt susaṃtuṣhṭam hṛṣhṭa puṣhṭa jana āyutam
viśhvāmitra balam rāma vasiṣhṭhena sutarpitam

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | viśvāmitra balam: Vishvamitra's, forces | sarvam eva: all, like that | vasiṣṭhena su tarpitam: by Vashishta, well, feasted | su santuṣṭam: well, gladdened | hṛṣṭa puṣṭa jana āyutam āsīt: rejoiced, regaled, men, consisting, it became. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, all of the men in the forces of Vishvamitra, who are already rejoiced and regaled by the regular feasts accorded by their king Vishvamitra, are now comparatively well gladdened when feasted by Sage Vashishta, in which they rejoiced and regaled, for a good measure. [1-53-5]

VERSE 6

विश्ह्वामित्रो अपि राजर्ष्हिः हृष्ह्ट पुष्ह्टः तदा अभवत्
स अन्तः पुर वरो राजा स ब्राह्मण पुरोहितः

viśhvāmitro api rājarṣhiḥ hṛṣhṭa puṣhṭaḥ tadā abhavat
sa antaḥ pura varo rājā sa brāhmaṇa purohitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | sa antaḥ pura varaḥ: with, palace, chamber's, best inmates [royal ladies] | sa brāhmaṇa purohitaḥ: with, court-scholars, royal-priests | rājarṣiḥ: kingly sage | viśvāmitraḥ rājā api: Vishvamitra, king, even | hṛṣṭa puṣṭaḥ abhavat: exultant, energetic, became. |

TRANSLATION

"Partaking that feast together with the best royal ladies of palace chambers, and with the court-scholars and the court-priests even the king Vishvamitra, who by his nature is a kingly sage, became exultant and energetic. [1-53-6]

VERSE 7

स अमात्यो मंत्रि सहितः स भृत्यः पूजितः तदा
युक्तः परम हर्ष्हेण वसिष्ह्ठम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

sa amātyo maṃtri sahitaḥ sa bhṛtyaḥ pūjitaḥ tadā
yuktaḥ parama harṣheṇa vasiṣhṭham idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | pūjitaḥ = one vho is honoured: Vishvamitra by Vashishta | sa amātyaḥ mantri sahitaḥ: with, advisers, minister, along with | sa bhṛtyaḥ = vith, attendants: Vishvamitra | parama harṣeṇa yuktaḥ: high, admiration, along with | vasiṣṭham idam abravīt: to Vashishta, this, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"When honoured along with his advisers, ministers and attendants by way of receiving a royal banquet, king Vishvamitra then in high admiration spoke this to Vashishta. [1-53-7]

VERSE 8

पूजितो अहम् त्वया ब्रह्मन् पूज अर्हेण सुसत्कृतः
श्ह्रूयताम् अभिधास्यामि वाक्यम् वाक्य विश्हारद

pūjito aham tvayā brahman pūja arheṇa susatkṛtaḥ
śhrūyatām abhidhāsyāmi vākyam vākya viśhārada

SYNONYMS

brahman: oh, Brahman | pūja arheṇa: for esteem, meetly [sage of your like] | tvayā: by you | aham pūjitaḥ: I am, reverenced [esteemed] | su sat kṛtaḥ: well, good, done [shown generous hospitality] | vākya viśārada: oh, sentence, expert of | vākyam abhidhāsyāmi = [a] vord, ī viś to tell: I say for myself | śrūyatām: that may be listened. |

TRANSLATION

" 'You showed me a generous hospitality whereby I am esteemed by an estimable sage like you, oh, expert in sententiousness, now I wish to say for myself to which you may please listen. [1-53-8]

VERSE 9

गवाम् श्हत सहस्रेण दीयताम् श्हबला मम
रत्नम् हि भगवन् एतत् रत्न हारी छ पार्थिवः

gavām śhata sahasreṇa dīyatām śhabalā mama
ratnam hi bhagavan etat ratna hārī cha pārthivaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 10a| bhagavan: oh, godly sage | gavām śata sahasreṇa: cows, by [barter of] hundred, thousands | mama śabalā dīyatām: to me, Shabala [do-all cow,] may be given | etat: this [cow] | ratnam hi: gemstone [treasure,] indeed | pārthivaḥ ratna hārī ca: king, gemstones [treasures,] stealer [gatherer] | dvija: oh, Brahman | tasmāt: therefore | śabalām me dehi: Shabala, to me, be bestowed | eṣā dharmataḥ mama = this [cov,] as a rule, mine: belongs to me. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, godly sage, this Shabala may be given to me for a barter of a lakh, a hundred thousand, cows. Indeed this do-all cow is a treasure, and the kings are the gatherers of treasures. Therefore bestow this cow to me. As rule this cow also belongs to me.' Thus Vishvamitra said to Vashishta. [1-53-9, 10a]

VERSE 10

एवम् उक्तः तु भगवान् वसिष्ह्ठो मुनि सत्तमः

evam uktaḥ tu bhagavān vasiṣhṭho muni sattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 11a| viśvāmitreṇa: by Vishvamitra | evam uktaḥ tu = that vay, vho is spoken to: Vashishta, on his part | bhagavān muni sattamaḥ dharmātmā: reverential one, saint, the eminent, virtue-souled one | vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vashishta | mahīpatim prati uvāca = to the king, in turn, spoke: replied. |

TRANSLATION

"When Vishvamitra addressed him in that way, the reverential sage Vashishta, who is a virtue-souled eminent saint, on his part replied the king in this way. [1-53-10b, 11a]

VERSE 11

न अहम् श्हत सहस्रेण न अपि कोटि श्हतैः गवाम्

na aham śhata sahasreṇa na api koṭi śhataiḥ gavām

SYNONYMS

b, 12a| rājan: oh, king | aham: I | gavām śata sahasreṇa: cows, by hundred, thousand | śabalām na dāsyāmi: Shabala, not, I will afford | koṭi śataiḥ api: by millions, hundreds of [of cows,] even | na: I do not give | rajatasya rāśibhiḥ: of silver, lots | vā = either: I do not give. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I cannot afford Shabala, neither by the barter of a hundred thousand cows, nor by hundreds of millions of cows, nor by lots and lots of silver, either. [1-53-11b, 12a]

VERSE 12

न परित्यागम् अर्हा इयम् मत् सकाश्हात् अरिन्दम

na parityāgam arhā iyam mat sakāśhāt arindama

SYNONYMS

b, 13a| arindama: oh, enemy-subjugator | iyam = this: cow | mat sakāśāt: from my, proximity | parityāgam: for abandoning | na arhā: not, she is proper one | ātmavataḥ: to self-respectful ones | kīrtiḥ yathā: respectability, as with | śabalā mahyam śāśvatī: Shabala is, for me, everlasting [inseparable.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Abandoning her from my proximity is unmeet for her, oh, enemy-subjugator, you cannot even subjugate me terroristically and try to wean this cow away from me, as Shabala is everlastingly and inseparably mine, as with the everlasting and inseparable respectability of a self-respectful person. [1-53-12b, 13a]

VERSE 13

अस्याम् हव्यम् छ कव्यम् छ प्राण यात्रा तथैव छ

asyām havyam cha kavyam cha prāṇa yātrā tathaiva cha

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| havyam ca: oblations [for gods,] also | kavyam ca: oblations [for manes,] also | tathaiva ca: like that, also | prāṇa yātrā = [my] life's, journey: cow which makes the journey of my life possible | agni hotram ca: for Ritual-fire, enkindler of, also | baliḥ = sacrifices: which accords material for sacrifices | homaḥ: conducting sacred rituals of = "#B3003A"> homa-s [Oxford: hom, n. (also = "#B3003A"> homa ) 1 the soma plant, 2 the juice of this plant as a sacred drink of the Parsees, [Persian = "#B3003A"> hom, hum, Avestan = "#B3003A"> haoma] | asyām āyattam = in her [in cov,] take basis: dependant on her. |

TRANSLATION

"This cow makes the journey of my life possible. Oblations to gods or manes, enkindling of Ritual-fire, religious sacrifices, homa -s, the sacred rituals conducted as darsha, paurNa maasi , all are dependent on her. [1-53-13b, 14a]

VERSE 14

स्वाहा कार वष्हट् कारौ विद्याः छ विविधाः तथा

svāhā kāra vaṣhaṭ kārau vidyāḥ cha vividhāḥ tathā

SYNONYMS

b, 15a| rāja ṛṣe: oh, kingly, sage | svāhā kāra vaṣaṭ kārau: swaahaa, syllabified utterances, vaSaT, add-on syllabics | tathā: thus | vi vidhāḥ vidyāḥ ca: divers and numerous, indoctrinations, also | etat sarvam: everything, in entirety | atra: in this matter [of cow] | āyattam: dependent on | samśayaḥ na: doubt, is not there. |

TRANSLATION

"This cow is the bedrock for everything in its entirety, and regarding diverse and numerous indoctrinations, and even for add-on syllabics like svaaha, vaSaT , they are all dependent on this cow, there is no doubt about it. [1-53-14b 15a]

PURPORT

When the Fire-Ritual, or homa is conducted each pouring of fluid oblation or each dropping of solid oblation into Fire-Altar is associated with Vedic-hymns addressing the particular receiver-deity, annexed with syllabics like: svaahaa, svaahaa kaaraaH at the end of each chant like indraaya svaahaa, indraaya idam na mama... varuNaaya svaahaa, varuNaaya idam na mama... 'to Indra this is scarified, this is for Indra, not mine... to Rain-god this is sacrificed, this is for Rain-god, not mine...' So also the vaSaT is annexed to the hymns addressed to manes. To learn Veda-s one shall be eligible to perform a Fire-ritual, and if Fire-ritual is performed, some basic Vedic hymns are to be learnt, and all this is a cyclic affair, requiring much paraphernalia. This cow supplies everything at wish, without a hassle, either to the teacher or to the taught.
VERSE 15

सर्वस्वम् एतत् सत्येन मम तुष्ह्टि करी तथा

sarvasvam etat satyena mama tuṣhṭi karī tathā

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| etat = this one: cow | satyena mama sarvasvam: in truth, to me, everything | [sadā: always] | tuṣṭi karī: gratification, doer [ever-gratifier] | rājan: oh, king | tathā: in that way | bahubhī kāraṇaiḥ: by so many, reasons | śabalām tava na dāsye: Shabala, to you, not, I afford. |

TRANSLATION

" "In truth, this cow is everything to me and ever-gratifier, that way by so many reasons, oh, king, I cannot afford Shabala to you or to anyone." So said Vashishta to Vishvamitra. [1-53-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

वसिष्ह्ठेन एवम् उक्तः तु विश्ह्वामित्रो अब्रवीत् तदा

vasiṣhṭhena evam uktaḥ tu viśhvāmitro abravīt tadā

SYNONYMS

b, 17a| vākya viśāradaḥ viśvāmitraḥ: sententiousness, expert, Vishvamitra | vasiṣṭhena evam uktaḥ: by Vashishta, thus, [though] spoken | tadā: then | ati artham: verily, reasoning [argumentatively] | sam rabdha taram: with, hastiness, muchly [compellingly] | [idam] vākyam abravīt: [this] sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

Though Vashishta spoke thus Vishvamitra being an expert in sententiousness then spoke this sentence compellingly and argumentatively. [1-53-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

हैरण्य कक्ष्ह्या ग्रैवेयान् सुवर्ण अंकुश्ह भूष्हितान्

hairaṇya kakṣhyā graiveyān suvarṇa aṃkuśha bhūṣhitān

SYNONYMS

b, 18b| hairaṇya kakṣyā graiveyān: golden, girdles, necklets | suvarṇa ankuśa bhūṣitān: golden, goad, adorned with | kunjarāṇām: such elephants | catur daśa sahasrāṇi = four, ten, thousands: fourteen thousand | te dadāmi: I bestow, upon you. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I bestow upon you fourteen thousand elephants adorned with golden girdles, golden necklets and golden goads. [1-53-17b, 18a]

VERSE 18

हैरण्यानाम् रथानाम् छ श्ह्वेत अश्ह्वानाम् छतुर् युजाम्

hairaṇyānām rathānām cha śhveta aśhvānām chatur yujām

SYNONYMS

b, 19a| śveta aśvānām catur yujām: with very white, horses, four, to yoke on | hairaṇyānām rathānām ca: golden, chariots, also | kinkiṇīka vibhūṣitān: set of tintinnabulating bells, trimmed up with | aṣṭau śatāni: eight, hundred | te dadāmi: to you, I will give. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I will grant you eight hundred golden chariots whichever can be yoked on with four whitely-white horses trimmed up with the sets of tintinnabulating bells. [1-53-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

हयानाम् देश्ह जातानाम् कुल जानाम् महौजसाम्
सहस्रम् एकम् दश्ह छ ददामि तव सुव्रत

hayānām deśha jātānām kula jānām mahaujasām
sahasram ekam daśha cha dadāmi tava suvrata

SYNONYMS

b, c| su vrata: on superbly, vowed sage | deśa jātānām: in countries, born in [famous countries for best horse breeding] | kula jānām: of [high] pedigree, born in | mahā ojasām: with great [fleetly,] animation [galloping] | hayānām: horses | ekam daśa ca = one, ten, also: eleven | sahasram = a thousand: eleven thousand horses | tava dadāmi: to you, I grant. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I grant you, oh, superbly vowed sage, eleven thousand fleetly galloping horses of high pedigree born in best countries of best horse breeding. [1-53-19b, c]

VERSE 20

नाना वर्ण विभक्तानाम् वयःस्थानाम् तथैव छ
ददामि एकाम् गवाम् कोटिम् श्हबला दीयताम् मम

nānā varṇa vibhaktānām vayaḥsthānām tathaiva cha
dadāmi ekām gavām koṭim śhabalā dīyatām mama

SYNONYMS

nānā varṇa vi bhaktānām: diverse, colours, verily [differently,] divisionalized | tathaiva ca: like that, also | vayaḥ sthānām: in age, staying [come of age] | gavām: of cows | ekām koṭim: one, crore [ten millions] | dadāmi: I award | mama śabalā dīyatām: to me, Shabala, may be given. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I award ten million diversely coloured and differently divisionalized cows, whichever of them will be came of age as milker, thereby, let this do-all cow Shabala be given to me. [1-53-20]

VERSE 21

यावत् इछ्छ्हसि रत्नानि हिरण्यम् वा द्विजोत्तम
तावत् ददामि ते सर्वम् दीयताम् श्हबला मम

yāvat ichchhasi ratnāni hiraṇyam vā dvijottama
tāvat dadāmi te sarvam dīyatām śhabalā mama

SYNONYMS

dvija uttama: oh, Brahman, the eminent | ratnāni vā hiraṇyam vā: gemstones, either, gold, or | yāvat icchasi: how much, you yearn | [tat] sarvam: [all,] everything | tāvat: that much | te dadāmi: I gift | śabalā mama dīyatām: Shabala, to me, be given. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Or, oh, eminent Brahman, if you yearn either for gems or gold, I gift that much of everything as much as you can yearn, let Shabala be given to me." Thus Vishvamitra entreated again. [1-53-21]

VERSE 22

एवम् उक्तः तु भगवान् विश्ह्वामित्रेण धीमता
न दास्यामि इति श्हबलाम् प्राह राजन् कथंछन

evam uktaḥ tu bhagavān viśhvāmitreṇa dhīmatā
na dāsyāmi iti śhabalām prāha rājan kathaṃchana

SYNONYMS

dhīmatā viśvāmitreṇa evam uktaḥ: by shrewd [king,] Vishvamitra, thus, who is spoken | bhagavān: reverential sage Vashishta | rājan: oh, king | kathamcana = vhatever: may happen | śabalām na dāsyāmi: Shabala, not, I surrender | iti pra aha: thus, clearly, said. |

TRANSLATION

When the shrewd king Vishvamitra spoke to the reverential sage Vashishta, that sage has clearly said, 'whatever it is oh, king, I do not surrender Shabala, the cow.' [1-53-22]

VERSE 23

एतदेव हि मे रत्नम् एतदेव हि मे धनम्
एतदेव हि सर्वस्वम् एतदेव हि जीवितम्

etadeva hi me ratnam etadeva hi me dhanam
etadeva hi sarvasvam etadeva hi jīvitam

SYNONYMS

etat eva: this, alone | me ratnam hi: for me, gem, indeed | etat eva hi me dhanam: this, alone, truly, for me, wealth [treasure] | etat eva sarvasvam hi: this, alone, for me, everything, really, | etat eva jīvitam hi: this, alone, life [alter ego,] actually. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Really this alone is my gemmy cow, thus I do not require your jewels or gems... truly, this alone is my treasure, thus I do not require your gilded chariots, horses or elephants... really, this alone is my everything, thus I need nothing from you... and actually, this alone is my alter-ego, thus you cannot separate me from myself. [1-53-23]

VERSE 24

दर्श्हः छ पौर्ण मासः छ यज्ञाः छैव आप्त दक्ष्हिणाः
एतदेव हि मे राजन् विविधाः छ क्रियाः तथा

darśhaḥ cha paurṇa māsaḥ cha yajñāḥ chaiva āpta dakṣhiṇāḥ
etadeva hi me rājan vividhāḥ cha kriyāḥ tathā

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | me: my | darśaḥ ca = darśa, also: Vedic-rituals | paurṇa māsaḥ ca: poorna maasa Vedic-rituals, also | āpta dakṣiṇāḥ: worthwhile, donations | yajñāḥ caiva: Vedic-rituals, like that, also | tathā: like that | vividhāḥ kriyāḥ ca: divers, activities, also | etat eva hi: this, alone, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'This alone is my darsha, puurNa maasa rituals, and like that this alone is all my Vedic-rituals with worthwhile donations and oh, king, this essentially is of service in diverse activities of mine. [1-53-24]

VERSE 25

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे त्रि पंछाश्हः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe tri paṃchāśhaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | mama sarvāḥ kriyāḥ: my, all, for activities | ataḥ mūlāḥ: in it [in cow,] instated | sanśayaḥ na: doubt, there is no | bahūnā pralāpena kim [prayojanam]: by a lot of, palavering, what is [the us] | kāma dohinīm: wishes, milker | na dāsye: not, I give away. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, king, all of my activities are instated in this cow, then wherefore a lot of palavering a bargain or barter? I do not give away this milker any wish." So said VashishtaT to Vishvamitra, and thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration of the legend of Sacred Cow. [1-53-25]

PURPORT

If cow is held sacred in India it is held precious all over the world. Whatever is given by a cow, from its milk to cow-dung, it is put to use, even for medicinal purposes, which is evident from insulin and smallpox vaccines. Regarding go mahaatmyam 'sacredness of cow' Bheeshma speaks at length about the sacredness of cow to Yudhishtar, in Anushaashanika Parva of Maha Bharata. anena sakala vaidika karma vidyaa jiivanaadi karatvena ati pavitratena ca gavaam ati mahatmyam gavaam vikrayato paryaapta vR^ittikaanaam atyaashaa niShedhaH ca trayam api suucitam - dk havyam kavyam tarpaNam shaanti karma yaanam vaaso vR^iddha baalasya tuShTiH | svaahaa kaara vaShaT kaarau goShu nityam pratiShTitau | gaavo yaj~nasya hi phalam goShu yaj~naaH pratiShTitaaH | gavaam muutra puriiShasya nodvijeta kathamcana | na ca aasaam maamsam ashniiyaat gavaam puShTim tathaa aapnuyaat | naa ataH para taram daanam na ataH puNya taram phalam | tvacaa lomnaa atha shR^ingaiH vaalaiH kShiireNa medasaa | yaj~nam vahati sambhuuyakim asya tat abhyadhikam tataH || mahaa bhaarate anushaashanika parvaaNi yudhiShTaram prati bhiiShma uvaaca : evam shruti smR^iti itihaasa puraaNa aadiShu bahu prakaareNa pratipaadyamaanam - go mahaatmyam - vaacaama gocaram iti dikpradarshana maatram kR^itvaa - vasiShTaH - viramyate - dk Here, on hinting in an indirect way about go mahaatmyam 'the sacredness of the cow...' and its un-marketability, Sage Vashishta paused his negation, hoping that Vishvamitra will realise, as he is also well-versed in scriptures.