MAHABHARATA

• That wretch among men who pretending to follow the path of righteousness prescribed in the Vedas, would kill living creatures from greed of flesh would certainly go to hellish regions. (Anusasana-parva, 115.43 -116.45)

• As the footprints of all moving, living beings are engulfed in those of the elephant, even thus all religions are to be understood by ahimsa which is non-violence to any living being by thought, words or actions. (Anusasana-parva, 114.6, 115.6)

गवां मूत्रपुरीषस्य नोद्विजेत कथंचन ।
न चासां मांसमश्नीयाद्गवां पुष्टिं तथाप्नुयात् ॥
(Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 78-17)

Do not hesitate to consume cow urine and cow dung – they are sacred. But one should never eat the cow meat. A person becomes stronger by consuming Panchagavya.

गावो ममाग्रतो नित्यं गावः पृष्ठत एव च ।
गावो मे सर्वतश्चैव गवां मध्ये वसाह्यहम् ॥
(Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 80-3)

Let there be cows in front of me, behind me and all around me. I live with the cows.

दानानामपि सर्वेषां गवां दानं प्रशस्यते ।
गावः श्रेष्ठाः पवित्राश्च पावनं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥
(Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 83-3)

Donation of cows is superior to all others. Cows are supreme and sacred.

गोकुलस्य तृषार्तस्य जलार्थे वसुधाधिपः ।
उत्पादयति यो विघ्नं तं विद्याद्ब्रह्मघातिनम् ॥
(Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 24-7)

Obstructing provision of water to thirsty cows should be considered equal to the sin of killing Brahmins.

सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनंदनः ।
पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्तादुग्धं गीतामृतः महत् ॥

Bhagavad-Gita is the essence of Upanishads. It is like a cow whom Srikrishna milks. Arjuna is like a calf. The learned devotees are drinking the ambrosial milk of Bhagavad-Gita.

गौर्मे माता वृषभः पिता मे दिवं शर्म जगते मे प्रतिष्ठा ।

Cow is my mother and ox my father. Let the pair bless me with happiness in this world and bliss in heaven. I depend on cow for my life – thus stating one should surrender to cow.

 

SRIMAD BHAGVAD GITA

Dhenunam asmi kamadhuk — Among cows I am the wish fulfilling (kamdhenu or surabhi) cow. (Verse 10.28).