34 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 9, Ch. 2

master; krtah—having been engaged; palayam dsa—he protected;
gah—cows; yattah—so engaged; ratryam—at night; virdsana-vratah—
taking the vow of virdsana, standing with a sword.

TRANSLATION

Among these sons, Prsadhra, following the order of his spiritual
master, was engaged as a protector of cows. He would stand all
night with a sword to give the cows protection.

PURPORT

One who becomes virdsana takes the vow to stand all night with a
sword to give protection to the cows. Because Prsadhra was engaged in
this way, it is to be understood that he had no dynasty. We can further
understand from this vow accepted by Prsadhra how essential it is to pro-
tect the cows. Some son of a ksatriya would take this vow to protect the
cows from ferocious animals, even at night. What then is to be said of
sending cows to slaughterhouses? This is the most sinful activity in
human society.

TEXT 4

wa MAS TE Teast PART TAA |
TTA TI SINT Ala VAR | 8 II

ekada pravisad gostham
Sdrdilo nisi varsati
Sayand gava utthaya
bhitas ta babhramur vraje

ekada—once upon a time; prdvisat—entered; gostham—the land of
the cowshed; Sardilah—a tiger; nisi—at night; varsati—while it was
raining; Saydnadh—lying down; gaévah—cows; utthdya—getting up;
bhitah—fearing; tah—all of them; babhramuh—scattered here and
there; vraje—in the land surrounding the cowshed.
