Text 2]
The Churning of the Milk Ocean
287
is inevitably necessary for performing great ritualistic sacrifices. As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā  (18.5),  yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat : sacrifice, charity and austerity are essential to keep human society perfect in peace and prosperity.  Yajña , the performance of sacrifice, is essential; to perform  yajña , clarified butter is absolutely necessary; and to get clarified butter, milk is necessary. Milk is produced when there are sufficient cows. Therefore in  Bhagavad-gītā  (18.44), cow protection is recommended ( kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam ).
TEXT 2
तामग्निहोत्रीमृषयो जगृहुर्ब्रह्मवादिनः । यज्ञस्य देवयानस्य मेध्याय हविषे नृप ॥ २ ॥
tām agni-hotrīm ṛṣayo jagṛhur brahma-vādinaḥ yajñasya deva-yānasya medhyāya haviṣe nṛpa
tām —that cow;  agni-hotrīm —absolutely necessary for the production of yogurt, milk and ghee to offer as oblations in the fire;  ṛṣayaḥ —sages who perform such sacrifices;  jagṛhuḥ —took in charge;  brahma-vādinaḥ —because such sages know the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies;  yajñasya —of sacrifice;  deva-yānasya —which fulfills the desire to be elevated to the higher planetary systems and to Brahmaloka;  medhyāya —fit for offering oblations;  haviṣe —for the sake of pure clarified butter;  nṛpa —O King.
TRANSLATION
O King Parikṣit, great sages who were completely aware of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies took charge of that surabhi cow, which produced all the yogurt, milk and ghee absolutely necessary for offering oblations into the fire. They did this just for the sake of pure ghee, which they wanted for the performance of sacrifices to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, up to Brahmaloka.