Text 2] The Churning of the Milk Ocean 287
is inevitably necessary for performing great ritualistic sacrifices. As
stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.5), yajfia-daéna-tapah-karma na tydjyam
karyam eva tat: sacrifice, charity and austerity are essential to keep
human society perfect in peace and prosperity. Yajfa, the performance
of sacrifice, is essential; to perform yajna, clarified butter is absolutely
necessary; and to get clarified butter, milk is necessary. Milk is produced
when there are sufficient cows. Therefore in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), cow
protection is recommended (hrsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma
svabhava-jam).
TEXT 2
Tata sgaaatca: |
wae saa Hea afIy TT Rl
tam agni-hotrim rsayo
jJagrhur brahma-vadinah
yajitasya deva-yanasya
medhyaya havise nrpa

tam—that cow; agni-hotrim—absolutely necessary for the production
of yogurt, milk and ghee to offer as oblations in the fire; rsayah—sages
who perform such sacrifices; jagrhuh—took in charge; brahma-
vadinah—because such sages know the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies;
yajnasya—of sacrifice; deva-yanasya—which fulfills the desire to be
elevated to the higher planetary systems and to Brahmaloka;
medhyaya—fit for offering oblations; havise—for the sake of pure
clarified butter; nrpa—O King.

TRANSLATION

O King Pariksit, 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.
