Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.111
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13.111.1
विधिं गवां परं श्रोतुमिच्छामि नृप तत्त्वतः ।
येन ताञ्शाश्वताँल्लोकानर्थिनां प्राप्नुयादिह ॥ १३.१११.१ ॥
O king, I wish to hear truly the supreme rule of giving cows, by which seekers might obtain those eternal worlds here.
13.111.2
न गोदानात्परं किञ्चिद्विद्यते वसुधाधिप ।
गौर्हि न्यायागता दत्ता सद्यस्तारयते कुलम् ॥ १३.१११.२ ॥
O lord of the earth, there is nothing higher than the gift of a cow. A cow rightfully acquired and given at once saves the family line.
13.111.3
सतामर्थे सम्यगुत्पादितो यः ।
स वै क्लृप्तः सम्यगाभ्यः प्रजाभ्यः।
तस्मात्पूर्वं ह्यादिकालप्रवृत्तं ।
गोदानार्थं शृणु राजन्विधिं मे ॥ १३.१११.३ ॥
That which was rightly brought forth for the good has likewise been rightly ordained for these creatures. Therefore, O king, hear from me the rule of cow-giving, practised since the earliest times.
13.111.4
पुरा गोष्ठे निलीनासु गोषु सन्दिग्धदर्शिना ।
मांधात्रा प्रकृतं प्रश्नं बृहस्पतिरभाषत ॥ १३.१११.४ ॥
Long ago, when the cows lay hidden in the cow-pen, Māndhātṛ, whose gaze was clouded with doubt, raised a question, and Bṛhaspati spoke in reply.
13.111.5
द्विजानामन्त्र्य सत्कृत्य प्रोक्तं कालमुपोष्य च ।
गोदानार्थे प्रयुञ्जीत रोहिणीं नियतव्रतः ॥ १३.१११.५ ॥
Having invited and honoured the twice-born, and having fasted at the appointed time, one of disciplined vows should perform this for the gift of cows under the Rohiṇī asterism.
13.111.6
आह्वानं च प्रयुञ्जीत समङ्गे बहुलेति च ।
प्रविश्य च गवां मध्यमिमां श्रुतिमुदाहरेत् ॥ १३.१११.६ ॥
And one should use the summons, saying, 'O Samaṅgā, O Bahulā,' and, having entered into the midst of the cows, one should recite this śruti.
13.111.7
गौर्मे माता वृषभः पिता मे ।
दिवं गर्भं जगती मे प्रतिष्ठा।
प्रपद्यैवं शर्वरीमुष्य गोषु ।
पुनर्वाणीमुत्सृजेद्गोप्रदाने ॥ १३.१११.७ ॥
The cow is my mother, the bull is my father; heaven is my womb, the jagatī metre my support. Having thus passed the night among the cows, one should again utter the speech at the giving of the cow.
13.111.8
स तामेकां निशां गोभिः समसख्यः समव्रतः ।
ऐकात्म्यगमनात्सद्यः कलुषाद्विप्रमुच्यते ॥ १३.१११.८ ॥
Having spent that one night with the cows, of equal companionship and equal vow, he attains oneness and is at once freed from stain, the brahmin.
13.111.9
उत्सृष्टवृषवत्सा हि प्रदेया सूर्यदर्शने ।
त्रिदिवं प्रतिपत्तव्यमर्थवादाशिषस्तव ॥ १३.१११.९ ॥
The cow, with the bull and calf released, should be given at sunrise. The threefold heaven is to be attained; these are the praises and blessings for you.
13.111.10
ऊर्जस्विन्य ऊर्जमेधाश्च यज्ञे ।
गर्भोऽमृतस्य जगतश्च प्रतिष्ठा।
क्षिते रोहः प्रवहः शश्वदेव ।
प्राजापत्याः सर्वमित्यर्थवादाः ॥ १३.१११.१० ॥
The vigorous cows, possessing vigour and wisdom, are in the sacrifice the womb of immortality and the support of the world. The growth and flow of the earth endure forever; all of this belongs to Prajāpati — these are laudatory statements.
13.111.11
गावो ममैनः प्रणुदन्तु सौर्या-
स्तथा सौम्याः स्वर्गयानाय सन्तु।
आत्मानं मे मातृवच्चाश्रयन्तु ।
तथाऽनुक्ताः सन्तु सर्वाशिषो मे ॥ १३.१११.११ ॥
May the cows of the sun drive away my sin; and may the gentle cows be for the journey to heaven. May they shelter me like a mother. Thus may all my blessings, even those unspoken, be fulfilled.
13.111.12
शोषोत्सर्गे कर्मभिर्देहमोक्षे ।
सरस्वत्यः श्रेयसे सम्प्रवृत्ताः।
यूयं नित्यं सर्वपुण्योपवाह्यां ।
दिशध्वं मे गतिमिष्टां प्रसन्नाः ॥ १३.१११.१२ ॥
By releasing the dried cows and through rites at the release from the body, you who have set out for the highest good, like the Sarasvatī, are always to be carried across by all merit. Be pleased and direct me to the desired path.
13.111.13
या वै यूयं सोऽहमद्यैव भावो ।
युष्मान्दत्त्वा चाहमात्मप्रदाता।
मनश्च्युता मन एवोपपन्नाः ।
सन्धुक्षध्वं सौम्यरूपाग्र्यदेहाः ॥ १३.१११.१३ ॥
What you are, that very state I am today; having given you, I too am a giver of self. Though fallen from the mind, attained within the mind, may you be kindled, having gentle forms and supreme bodies.
13.111.14
दानस्याग्रे पूर्वमेतद्वदेत ।
गवां दाता विधिवत्पर्वदृष्टम्।
प्रतिब्रूयाच्छेषमर्धंद्विजातिः ।
प्रतिगृह्णन्वै गोप्रदाने विधिज्ञः ॥ १३.१११.१४ ॥
At the very beginning of the gift one should first say this: the giver of cows, according to rule, as seen in the rite; the twice-born should reply to the remaining half, while the one who knows the rule receives in the gift of a cow.
13.111.15
गां ददानीति वक्तव्यमर्घ्यमुत्सृज्य सुव्रतः ।
ऊढव्या भरितव्या च वैष्णवीति च चोदयेत् ॥ १३.१११.१५ ॥
One should say, "I give a cow"; having released the arghya, the one of good vows should urge, saying, "Vaiṣṇavī is to be carried and to be nourished."
13.111.16
नाम सङ्कीर्तयेत्तस्या यथासंख्योत्तरं स वै ।
फलं षट्त्रिंशदष्टौ च सहस्राणि च विंशतिः ॥ १३.१११.१६ ॥
One should recite her name, with the number-response in order; the fruit of it is thirty-six, and eight thousands, and twenty.
13.111.17
एवमेतान्गुणान्विद्याद्गवादीनां यथाक्रमम् ।
गोप्रदाता समाप्नोति समस्तानष्टमे क्रमे ॥ १३.१११.१७ ॥
Thus one should know these merits of cows and the rest in order; the giver of a cow attains all of them at the eighth step.
13.111.18
गोदः शीली निर्भयश्चार्घदाता ।
न स्याद्दुःखी वसुदाता च कामम्।
उपस्योढा भारते यश्च विद्वा-
न्विख्यातास्ते वैष्णवाश्चन्द्रलोकाः ॥ १३.१११.१८ ॥
The giver of a cow becomes virtuous, fearless, and a giver of honorific offerings; he does not become unhappy, and gives wealth as he wishes. Those in the Bhārata land who are married and learned are the renowned Vaiṣṇava moon-worlds.
13.111.19
गा वै दत्त्वा गोव्रती स्यात्त्रिरात्रं ।
निशां चैकां संवसेतेह ताभिः।
काम्याष्टभ्यां वर्तितव्यं त्रिरात्रं ।
रसैर्वा गोः शकृता प्रश्नवैर्वा ॥ १३.१११.१९ ॥
Having given cows, one who keeps the cow-vow should remain for three nights, and dwell here with them for one night. On the desired eighth days he should observe the vow for three nights, with cow's juices, or dung, or urine.
13.111.20
देवव्रती स्याद्वृषभप्रदाने ।
वेदावाप्तिर्गोयुगस्य प्रदाने।
तथा गवां विधिमासाद्य यज्वा ।
लोकानग्र्यान्विन्दते गोविधिज्ञः ॥ १३.१११.२० ॥
One should become devoted to the gods by giving a bull; by giving a pair of cows one attains the Vedas. Likewise, the sacrificer who has undertaken the cow-rite, and the knower of the cow-rite, obtains the foremost worlds.
13.111.21
कामान्सर्वान्पार्थिवानेकसंस्था-
न्यो वै दद्यात्कामदुघां च धेनुम्।
सम्यक्ताः स्युर्हव्यकव्यौघवत्य ।
स्तासामुक्ष्णां ज्यायसां सम्प्रदानम् ॥ १३.१११.२१ ॥
He who gives the wish-yielding cow, which brings all earthly desires to a single end, let those cows be fully abounding in oblations to gods and ancestors. The gift of those foremost bulls likewise (yields the highest fruit).
13.111.22
न चाशिष्यायाव्रतायोपकुर्या-
न्नाश्रद्दधानाय न वक्रबुद्धये।
गुह्यो ह्ययं सर्वलोकस्य धर्मो ।
नेमं धर्मं यत्र तत्र प्रजल्पेत् ॥ १३.१११.२२ ॥
One should not do a kindness to one who is not a disciple, who has no vow, who lacks faith, or who has a crooked mind. This dharma is secret for the whole world; one should not proclaim this dharma wherever one happens to be.
13.111.23
सन्ति लोके श्रद्दधाना मनुष्याः ।
सन्ति क्षुद्रा राक्षसमानुषेषु।
एषामेतद्दीयमानं ह्यनिष्टं ।
ये नास्तिक्यं चाश्रयन्तेऽल्पपुण्याः ॥ १३.१११.२३ ॥
There are faithful people in the world, and there are base ones among demons and men. To give this to those of little merit who take refuge in unbelief is unwholesome.
13.111.24
बार्हस्पत्यं वाक्यमेतन्निशम्य ।
ये राजानो गोप्रदानानि दत्त्वा।
लोकान्प्राप्ताः पुण्यशीलाः प्रवृत्ता-
स्तान्मे राजन्कीर्त्यमानान्निबोध ॥ १३.१११.२४ ॥
Having heard these words of Bṛhaspati, the kings who gave gifts of cows, being of virtuous character and devoted to merit, attained the worlds. O king, learn of them as I recount them.
13.111.25
उशीनरो विश्वगश्वो नृगश्च ।
भगीरथो विश्रुतो यौवनाश्वः।
मान्धाता वै मुचुकुन्दश्च राजा ।
भूरिद्युम्नो नैषधः सोमकश्च ॥ १३.१११.२५ ॥
Uśīnara, Viśvagaśva and Nṛga, Bhagīratha, the famous Yauvanāśva, Māndhātṛ, King Mucukunda, Bhūridyumna, the Naiṣadha and Somaka.
13.111.26
पुरूरवा भरतश्चक्रवर्ती ।
यस्यान्ववाये भरताः सर्व एव।
तथा वीरो दाशरथिश्च रामो ।
ये चाप्यन्ये विश्रुताः कीर्तिमन्तः ॥ १३.१११.२६ ॥
Purūravas, the universal emperor Bharata, in whose line all the Bharatas arose; likewise the heroic Rāma, son of Daśaratha; and the others who were renowned and famed.
13.111.27
तथा राजा पृथुकर्मा दिलीपो ।
दिवं प्राप्तो गोप्रदानैर्विधिज्ञः।
यज्ञैर्दानैस्तपसा राजधर्मै-
र्मांधाताऽभूद्गोप्रदानैश्च युक्तः ॥ १३.१११.२७ ॥
Likewise King Dilīpa, of great deeds, who knew the rites, attained heaven through gifts of cows; and by sacrifices, gifts, austerity and royal duties, and joined with the gift of cows, Māndhātṛ came to be.
13.111.28
तस्मात्पार्थ त्वमपीमां मयोक्तां ।
बार्हस्पतीं भारतीं धारयस्व।
द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छस्व प्रीतो ।
गाः पुण्या वै प्राप्य राज्यं कुरूणाम् ॥ १३.१११.२८ ॥
Therefore, son of Pṛthā, you too should hold fast to this Bārhaspatya-Bhāratī teaching I have spoken, and gladly give sacred cows to the foremost brahmins, having obtained the kingdom of the Kurus.
13.111.29
तथा सर्वं कृतवान्धर्मराजो ।
भीष्मेणोक्तो विधिवद्गोप्रदाने
स मान्धातुर्वेद देवोपदिष्टं ।
सम्यग्धर्मं धारयामास राजा ॥ १३.१११.२९ ॥
Likewise the king of dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira, did all that Bhīṣma had instructed according to rule concerning the gift of cows; he fully upheld the dharma that the gods had taught to Māndhātṛ.
13.111.30
इति नृप सततं गवां प्रदाने ।
यवशकलान्सह गोमयैः पिबानः।
क्षितितलशयनः शिखी यतात्मा ।
वृष इव राजवृषस्तदा बभूव ॥ १३.१११.३० ॥
Thus, O king, constantly engaged in the gift of cows, drinking barley fragments with cow-dung, sleeping on the bare ground, with topknot and self-controlled, he then became like a bull among kings.
13.111.31
नरपतिरभवत्सदैव ताभ्यः ।
प्रयतमनास्त्वभिसंस्तुवंश्च गा वै।
नृपतिधुरि च गामयुक्त भूप-
स्तुरगवरैरगमच्च यत्र तत्र ॥ १३.१११.३१ ॥
The king was always devoted to those cows, with a disciplined mind, praising them again and again. The king yoked a cow to the yoke-pole, and with excellent horses went here and there.