GoSeva.org :: Cow Welfare

Mahabharata

"O Bharata, a person devoted to cows attains whatever he desires. Women also who are devoted to cows have their wishes fulfilled. A person desiring a son gets a son, one desiring a daughter gets a daughter, one desiring wealth obtains wealth, one desiring religion becomes religious, a student acquires education and one desiring happiness becomes happy. There is nothing unachievable for a servant of cows." (13.83.50-52)
"The cow is my mother. The bull is my sire. The cow is my refuge! (13.56.4) "
Cows are given in charity to Brahmans so that they may sustain themselves. This is considered as an act of highest merit. “He that gives an actual cow becomes endued with righteous behavior in this world. He that gives the value of a cow becomes freed from every kind of fear. He that gives a cow (as a substitute in way for a real cow) never meet with sorrow. When the sun rises in the morning, you should give away the cow, accompanied by her calf and a bull. As the reward of such an act, heaven will certainly become attainable to thee. . “
From the Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva,
Bhishma said: No sacrifice can be performed without the aid of curds and ghee (clarified butter). The very character of sacrifice which sacrifices have, depends upon ghee. Hence ghee (or, the cow from which it is produced) is regarded as the very root of sacrifice. Cows have been said to be the limbs of sacrifice. They represent sacrifice itself. Without them, there can be no sacrifice. With their milk and the Havi produced there from, they uphold all creatures by diverse acts. Cows are guileless in their behavior. From them flow sacrifices and Havya and Kavya, and milk and curds and ghee. hence cows are sacred. (Sections 83 - 87) Afflicted by hunger and thirst, they bear diverse burdens. Cows support the Munis (sages). Among all objects mobile and immobile, the mobile are superior. Among mobile creatures Brahmanas are superior. The sacrifices are all established upon them. It is by sacrifice that Soma (nectar) is got. Sacrifice has been established upon cows. ( For without ghee or clarified butter, which is produced from milk, there can be no sacrifice). The gods become gratified through sacrifices. It is from the cows that the means have flowed of the sustenance of all the worlds. They yield Soma (nectar) in the form of milk. Cows are auspicious and sacred, and grantor of every wish and givers of life. They who make gifts of cows, and who subsist upon the remnants of things offered as libations on the sacred fire, are regarded, as always performing sacrifices of every kind. Of all kinds of gifts, the gift of cows is applauded as the highest. Cows are the foremost of all things. Themselves sacred, they are the best of cleansers and sanctifiers. People should cherish cows for obtaining prosperity and even peace. Cows are said to represent the highest energy both in this world and the world that is above. There is nothing that is more sacred or sanctifying than cows.One should never feel any repugnance for the urine and the dung of the cow.
Vyasa said: Cows constitute the stay of all creatures. Cows are the refuge of all creatures. Cows are the embodiment of merit. Cows are sacred and blessed and are sanctifiers of all. One should never, in even one's heart, do an injury to cows. One should, indeed, always confer happiness on them. Cows are endued with the elements of strength and energetic exertion. Cows have in them the elements of wisdom. They are the source of that immortality which sacrifice achieves. They are the refuge of all energy. They are the steps by which earthly prosperity is won. They constitute the eternal course of the universe. They lead to the extension of one's race .