The Rite of Giving Cows

Verse 1 (13.111.1)

विधिं गवां परं श्रोतुमिच्छामि नृप तत्त्वतः । येन ताञ्शाश्वताँल्लोकानर्थिनां प्राप्नुयादिह ॥

vidhiṃ gavāṃ paraṃ śrotumicchāmi nṛpa tattvataḥ | yena tāñśāśvatām̐llokānarthināṃ prāpnuyādiha

Yudhishthira said: I wish to hear in truth, O king, the supreme rule for cows, by which those who seek them may gain here the eternal worlds.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: CE 13.75.1 (vidhiṃ gavāṃ param ahaṃ śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ / yena tāñ śāśvatāṃl lokān akhilān aśnuvīmahi); Wikisource has a recension variant of the wording, kept.

Verse 2 (13.111.2)

न गोदानात्परं किञ्चिद्विद्यते वसुधाधिप । गौर्हि न्यायागता दत्ता सद्यस्तारयते कुलम् ॥

na godānātparaṃ kiñcidvidyate vasudhādhipa | gaurhi nyāyāgatā dattā sadyastārayate kulam

Bhishma said: There is nothing higher than the gift of a cow, O lord of the earth. A cow honestly acquired and given rescues one's family at once.

Verse 3 (13.111.3)

सतामर्थे सम्यगुत्पादितो यः । स वै क्लृप्तः सम्यगाभ्यः प्रजाभ्यः । तस्मात्पूर्वं ह्यादिकालप्रवृत्तं । गोदानार्थं शृणु राजन्विधिं मे ॥

satāmarthe samyagutpādito yaḥ | sa vai klṛptaḥ samyagābhyaḥ prajābhyaḥ | tasmātpūrvaṃ hyādikālapravṛttaṃ | godānārthaṃ śṛṇu rājanvidhiṃ me

That which was rightly brought forth for the good has surely been duly established for these creatures. Therefore, O king, hear from me the rule for the gift of cows, which has been in practice since the first age.

Verse 4 (13.111.4)

पुरा गोष्ठे निलीनासु गोषु सन्दिग्धदर्शिना । मांधात्रा प्रकृतं प्रश्नं बृहस्पतिरभाषत ॥

purā goṣṭhe nilīnāsu goṣu sandigdhadarśinā | māṃdhātrā prakṛtaṃ praśnaṃ bṛhaspatirabhāṣata

Long ago, when the cows had withdrawn into the cow-pen, Mandhata, in doubt, put a question, and Brihaspati answered it.

Verse 5 (13.111.5)

द्विजानामन्त्र्य सत्कृत्य प्रोक्तं कालमुपोष्य च । गोदानार्थे प्रयुञ्जीत रोहिणीं नियतव्रतः ॥

dvijānāmantrya satkṛtya proktaṃ kālamupoṣya ca | godānārthe prayuñjīta rohiṇīṃ niyatavrataḥ

Having invited and honoured the brahmins, and having fasted for the appointed time, one should set apart Rohini for the gift of cows, keeping his vow.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: CE 13.75.5 (dvijātim abhisatkṛtya śvaḥ kālam abhivedya ca / pradānārthe niyuñjīta rohiṇīṃ niyatavrataḥ); recension variant, kept.

Verse 6 (13.111.6)

आह्वानं च प्रयुञ्जीत समङ्गे बहुलेति च । प्रविश्य च गवां मध्यमिमां श्रुतिमुदाहरेत् ॥

āhvānaṃ ca prayuñjīta samaṅge bahuleti ca | praviśya ca gavāṃ madhyamimāṃ śrutimudāharet

He should call the cows by the names Samanga and Bahula, and entering the midst of the cows should recite this Vedic text:

Verse 7 (13.111.7)

गौर्मे माता वृषभः पिता मे । दिवं गर्भं जगती मे प्रतिष्ठा । प्रपद्यैवं शर्वरीमुष्य गोषु । पुनर्वाणीमुत्सृजेद्गोप्रदाने ॥

gaurme mātā vṛṣabhaḥ pitā me | divaṃ garbhaṃ jagatī me pratiṣṭhā | prapadyaivaṃ śarvarīmuṣya goṣu | punarvāṇīmutsṛjedgopradāne

“The cow is my mother, the bull my father; heaven is my womb, the earth my foundation.” Having taken refuge in this way and spent the night among the cows, he should again utter the speech at the gift of the cow.

Verse 8 (13.111.8)

स तामेकां निशां गोभिः समसख्यः समव्रतः । ऐकात्म्यगमनात्सद्यः कलुषाद्विप्रमुच्यते ॥

sa tāmekāṃ niśāṃ gobhiḥ samasakhyaḥ samavrataḥ | aikātmyagamanātsadyaḥ kaluṣādvipramucyate

Spending that one night with the cows, their equal in friendship and in vow, he is freed at once, through becoming one with them, from impurity.

Verse 9 (13.111.9)

उत्सृष्टवृषवत्सा हि प्रदेया सूर्यदर्शने । त्रिदिवं प्रतिपत्तव्यमर्थवादाशिषस्तव ॥

utsṛṣṭavṛṣavatsā hi pradeyā sūryadarśane | tridivaṃ pratipattavyamarthavādāśiṣastava

The cow, with her bull-calf let loose, is to be given at the sight of the sun. Heaven is to be attained; the explanatory words and the blessings are yours.

Note on the text: The last pāda अर्थवादाशिषस्तव is kept as printed (CE reads trividhaṃ pratipattavyam arthavādāśiṣaḥ stavāḥ); translated as it stands.

Verse 10 (13.111.10)

ऊर्जस्विन्य ऊर्जमेधाश्च यज्ञे । गर्भोऽमृतस्य जगतश्च प्रतिष्ठा । क्षिते रोहः प्रवहः शश्वदेव । प्राजापत्याः सर्वमित्यर्थवादाः ॥

ūrjasvinya ūrjamedhāśca yajñe | garbho'mṛtasya jagataśca pratiṣṭhā | kṣite rohaḥ pravahaḥ śaśvadeva | prājāpatyāḥ sarvamityarthavādāḥ

Full of vigour, flourishing in strength at the sacrifice, the womb of the immortal and the foundation of the world, the growth upon the earth, ever flowing: “all belongs to the offspring of Prajapati” — these are the explanatory words.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: CE 13.75.10 (ūrjasvinya ūrjamedhāś ca yajño garbho 'mṛtasya jagataś ca pratiṣṭhā …); recension variant, kept.

Verse 11 (13.111.11)

गावो ममैनः प्रणुदन्तु सौर्या- । स्तथा सौम्याः स्वर्गयानाय सन्तु । आत्मानं मे मातृवच्चाश्रयन्तु । तथाऽनुक्ताः सन्तु सर्वाशिषो मे ॥

gāvo mamainaḥ praṇudantu sauryā- | stathā saumyāḥ svargayānāya santu | ātmānaṃ me mātṛvaccāśrayantu | tathā'nuktāḥ santu sarvāśiṣo me

“May the cows of the sun wipe away my sin, and may the cows of the moon be for my journey to heaven. May they shelter me like a mother, and may all my unspoken blessings come to be.”

Verse 12 (13.111.12)

शोषोत्सर्गे कर्मभिर्देहमोक्षे । सरस्वत्यः श्रेयसे सम्प्रवृत्ताः । यूयं नित्यं सर्वपुण्योपवाह्यां । दिशध्वं मे गतिमिष्टां प्रसन्नाः ॥

śoṣotsarge karmabhirdehamokṣe | sarasvatyaḥ śreyase sampravṛttāḥ | yūyaṃ nityaṃ sarvapuṇyopavāhyāṃ | diśadhvaṃ me gatimiṣṭāṃ prasannāḥ

“At the end, when my body is released through my deeds, you who are Sarasvatis, risen up for my good, ever the bearers of all merit — be gracious and grant me the goal I long for.”

Verse 13 (13.111.13)

या वै यूयं सोऽहमद्यैव भावो । युष्मान्दत्त्वा चाहमात्मप्रदाता । मनश्च्युता मन एवोपपन्नाः । सन्धुक्षध्वं सौम्यरूपाग्र्यदेहाः ॥

yā vai yūyaṃ so'hamadyaiva bhāvo | yuṣmāndattvā cāhamātmapradātā | manaścyutā mana evopapannāḥ | sandhukṣadhvaṃ saumyarūpāgryadehāḥ

“What you are, that I am today, one in being; having given you, I am the giver of myself. Come forth from the mind, born of the mind alone, kindle me, you of gentle forms and foremost bodies.”

Verse 14 (13.111.14)

दानस्याग्रे पूर्वमेतद्वदेत । गवां दाता विधिवत्पर्वदृष्टम् । प्रतिब्रूयाच्छेषमर्धंद्विजातिः । प्रतिगृह्णन्वै गोप्रदाने विधिज्ञः ॥

dānasyāgre pūrvametadvadeta | gavāṃ dātā vidhivatparvadṛṣṭam | pratibrūyāccheṣamardhaṃdvijātiḥ | pratigṛhṇanvai gopradāne vidhijñaḥ

The giver of cows should first say this at the beginning of the gift, as the rule has been seen to lay down; and the brahmin who receives, knowing the rule, should reply with the remaining half.

Verse 15 (13.111.15)

गां ददानीति वक्तव्यमर्घ्यमुत्सृज्य सुव्रतः । ऊढव्या भरितव्या च वैष्णवीति च चोदयेत् ॥

gāṃ dadānīti vaktavyamarghyamutsṛjya suvrataḥ | ūḍhavyā bharitavyā ca vaiṣṇavīti ca codayet

The giver, of good vow, having poured out the water of welcome, should say “I give the cow,” and should urge: “She is to be taken and tended; she is Vaishnavi.”

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: CE 13.75.15 (gāṃ dadānīti vaktavyam arghyavastravasupradaḥ / ūdhasyā bharitavyā ca vaiṣṇavīti ca codayet); recension variant, kept.

Verse 16 (13.111.16)

नाम सङ्कीर्तयेत्तस्या यथासंख्योत्तरं स वै । फलं षट्त्रिंशदष्टौ च सहस्राणि च विंशतिः ॥

nāma saṅkīrtayettasyā yathāsaṃkhyottaraṃ sa vai | phalaṃ ṣaṭtriṃśadaṣṭau ca sahasrāṇi ca viṃśatiḥ

He should recite her names in numerical order; the fruit is given as thirty-six, eight thousand, and twenty.

Verse 17 (13.111.17)

एवमेतान्गुणान्विद्याद्गवादीनां यथाक्रमम् । गोप्रदाता समाप्नोति समस्तानष्टमे क्रमे ॥

evametānguṇānvidyādgavādīnāṃ yathākramam | gopradātā samāpnoti samastānaṣṭame krame

Thus one should know these merits, growing in due order, of cows and the rest; the giver of cows gains them all in the eighth step.

Verse 18 (13.111.18)

गोदः शीली निर्भयश्चार्घदाता । न स्याद्दुःखी वसुदाता च कामम् । उपस्योढा भारते यश्च विद्वा- । न्विख्यातास्ते वैष्णवाश्चन्द्रलोकाः ॥

godaḥ śīlī nirbhayaścārghadātā | na syādduḥkhī vasudātā ca kāmam | upasyoḍhā bhārate yaśca vidvā- | nvikhyātāste vaiṣṇavāścandralokāḥ

The giver of a cow who is virtuous, fearless and gives the water of welcome would not be unhappy, nor the giver of wealth lack what he desires; and the learned man, O Bharata, who takes up the care of the cow — their worlds are renowned as the Vaishnava worlds of the moon.

Verse 19 (13.111.19)

गा वै दत्त्वा गोव्रती स्यात्त्रिरात्रं । निशां चैकां संवसेतेह ताभिः । काम्याष्टभ्यां वर्तितव्यं त्रिरात्रं । रसैर्वा गोः शकृता प्रश्नवैर्वा ॥

gā vai dattvā govratī syāttrirātraṃ | niśāṃ caikāṃ saṃvaseteha tābhiḥ | kāmyāṣṭabhyāṃ vartitavyaṃ trirātraṃ | rasairvā goḥ śakṛtā praśnavairvā

Having given cows, he should keep the cows' vow for three nights, and spend one night here with them. On the eighth day observed for a wish he should live for three nights on the cow's products — on milk, or on dung, or on what flows from her.

Verse 20 (13.111.20)

देवव्रती स्याद्वृषभप्रदाने । वेदावाप्तिर्गोयुगस्य प्रदाने । तथा गवां विधिमासाद्य यज्वा । लोकानग्र्यान्विन्दते गोविधिज्ञः ॥

devavratī syādvṛṣabhapradāne | vedāvāptirgoyugasya pradāne | tathā gavāṃ vidhimāsādya yajvā | lokānagryānvindate govidhijñaḥ

He should keep the vow of the gods when giving a bull; the Vedas are gained by giving a pair of oxen. So the sacrificer who has come to the rule of the cows and knows it wins the foremost worlds.

Verse 21 (13.111.21)

कामान्सर्वान्पार्थिवानेकसंस्था- । न्यो वै दद्यात्कामदुघां च धेनुम् । सम्यक्ताः स्युर्हव्यकव्यौघवत्य । स्तासामुक्ष्णां ज्यायसां सम्प्रदानम् ॥

kāmānsarvānpārthivānekasaṃsthā- | nyo vai dadyātkāmadughāṃ ca dhenum | samyaktāḥ syurhavyakavyaughavatya | stāsāmukṣṇāṃ jyāyasāṃ sampradānam

He who gives a wish-granting cow gives all earthly desires gathered in one place. Such cows are rightly rich in streams of oblations for gods and ancestors; and the gift of the finest bulls among them is likewise praised.

Verse 22 (13.111.22)

न चाशिष्यायाव्रतायोपकुर्या- । न्नाश्रद्दधानाय न वक्रबुद्धये । गुह्यो ह्ययं सर्वलोकस्य धर्मो । नेमं धर्मं यत्र तत्र प्रजल्पेत् ॥

na cāśiṣyāyāvratāyopakuryā- | nnāśraddadhānāya na vakrabuddhaye | guhyo hyayaṃ sarvalokasya dharmo | nemaṃ dharmaṃ yatra tatra prajalpet

One should not show this favour to a man who is not a pupil, who keeps no vows, who has no faith, or whose mind is crooked. For this dharma is a secret of all the world; one should not speak of it here and there.

Verse 23 (13.111.23)

सन्ति लोके श्रद्दधाना मनुष्याः । सन्ति क्षुद्रा राक्षसमानुषेषु । एषामेतद्दीयमानं ह्यनिष्टं । ये नास्तिक्यं चाश्रयन्तेऽल्पपुण्याः ॥

santi loke śraddadhānā manuṣyāḥ | santi kṣudrā rākṣasamānuṣeṣu | eṣāmetaddīyamānaṃ hyaniṣṭaṃ | ye nāstikyaṃ cāśrayante'lpapuṇyāḥ

There are men of faith in the world, and there are mean ones among the demon-like men. To these, a gift of this would be unwelcome — to those of little merit who take refuge in unbelief.

Verse 24 (13.111.24)

बार्हस्पत्यं वाक्यमेतन्निशम्य । ये राजानो गोप्रदानानि दत्त्वा । लोकान्प्राप्ताः पुण्यशीलाः प्रवृत्ता- । स्तान्मे राजन्कीर्त्यमानान्निबोध ॥

bārhaspatyaṃ vākyametanniśamya | ye rājāno gopradānāni dattvā | lokānprāptāḥ puṇyaśīlāḥ pravṛttā- | stānme rājankīrtyamānānnibodha

Having heard this speech of Brihaspati, hear from me, O king, those virtuous kings who gave gifts of cows and won worlds, as I name them.

Verse 25 (13.111.25)

उशीनरो विश्वगश्वो नृगश्च । भगीरथो विश्रुतो यौवनाश्वः । मान्धाता वै मुचुकुन्दश्च राजा । भूरिद्युम्नो नैषधः सोमकश्च ॥

uśīnaro viśvagaśvo nṛgaśca | bhagīratho viśruto yauvanāśvaḥ | māndhātā vai mucukundaśca rājā | bhūridyumno naiṣadhaḥ somakaśca

Ushinara, Vishvagashva, Nriga, the renowned Bhagiratha, Yauvanashva, Mandhata, King Muchukunda, Bhuridyumna the Naishadha, and Somaka,

Verse 26 (13.111.26)

पुरूरवा भरतश्चक्रवर्ती । यस्यान्ववाये भरताः सर्व एव । तथा वीरो दाशरथिश्च रामो । ये चाप्यन्ये विश्रुताः कीर्तिमन्तः ॥

purūravā bharataścakravartī | yasyānvavāye bharatāḥ sarva eva | tathā vīro dāśarathiśca rāmo | ye cāpyanye viśrutāḥ kīrtimantaḥ

Pururavas, Bharata the universal emperor, in whose line all the Bharatas arose, and the heroic Rama, son of Dasharatha, and others too who are renowned and glorious.

Verse 27 (13.111.27)

तथा राजा पृथुकर्मा दिलीपो । दिवं प्राप्तो गोप्रदानैर्विधिज्ञः । यज्ञैर्दानैस्तपसा राजधर्मै- । र्मांधाताऽभूद्गोप्रदानैश्च युक्तः ॥

tathā rājā pṛthukarmā dilīpo | divaṃ prāpto gopradānairvidhijñaḥ | yajñairdānaistapasā rājadharmai- | rmāṃdhātā'bhūdgopradānaiśca yuktaḥ

And King Dilipa of great deeds, who knew the rule, reached heaven by gifts of cows; and Mandhata, through sacrifices, gifts, austerity and the duties of a king, was endowed with gifts of cows.

Verse 28 (13.111.28)

तस्मात्पार्थ त्वमपीमां मयोक्तां । बार्हस्पतीं भारतीं धारयस्व । द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छस्व प्रीतो । गाः पुण्या वै प्राप्य राज्यं कुरूणाम् ॥

tasmātpārtha tvamapīmāṃ mayoktāṃ | bārhaspatīṃ bhāratīṃ dhārayasva | dvijāgryebhyaḥ samprayacchasva prīto | gāḥ puṇyā vai prāpya rājyaṃ kurūṇām

Therefore, Partha, you too bear in mind this teaching of Brihaspati which I have spoken. Give cows gladly to the best of brahmins, cows of merit, having won the kingdom of the Kurus.

Verse 29 (13.111.29)

तथा सर्वं कृतवान्धर्मराजो । भीष्मेणोक्तो विधिवद्गोप्रदाने । स मान्धातुर्वेद देवोपदिष्टं । सम्यग्धर्मं धारयामास राजा ॥

tathā sarvaṃ kṛtavāndharmarājo | bhīṣmeṇokto vidhivadgopradāne | sa māndhāturveda devopadiṣṭaṃ | samyagdharmaṃ dhārayāmāsa rājā

Vaishampayana said: And the king of dharma did everything, just as Bhishma had told him, in the rule for the gift of cows. That king knew and rightly upheld the dharma taught by the god to Mandhata.

Verse 30 (13.111.30)

इति नृप सततं गवां प्रदाने । यवशकलान्सह गोमयैः पिबानः । क्षितितलशयनः शिखी यतात्मा । वृष इव राजवृषस्तदा बभूव ॥

iti nṛpa satataṃ gavāṃ pradāne | yavaśakalānsaha gomayaiḥ pibānaḥ | kṣititalaśayanaḥ śikhī yatātmā | vṛṣa iva rājavṛṣastadā babhūva

Thus, O king, constantly giving cows, living on barley grains taken from cow dung and sleeping on the ground, with a topknot and a disciplined self, the king of kings became then like a bull.

Verse 31 (13.111.31)

नरपतिरभवत्सदैव ताभ्यः । प्रयतमनास्त्वभिसंस्तुवंश्च गा वै । नृपतिधुरि च गामयुक्त भूप- । स्तुरगवरैरगमच्च यत्र तत्र ॥

narapatirabhavatsadaiva tābhyaḥ | prayatamanāstvabhisaṃstuvaṃśca gā vai | nṛpatidhuri ca gāmayukta bhūpa- | sturagavarairagamacca yatra tatra

The king was ever devoted to those cows, pure in mind and praising them. At the yoke of kingship the king yoked a cow, and went wherever he pleased with the finest horses.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: CE 13.75.31. Line 3 reads नृपतिधुरि च गामयुक्त where the CE has nṛpadhuri ca na gām ayuṅkta bhūyaḥ ('did not yoke a cow again'); Wikisource reading kept and translated as printed.