The Sanctity of the Cow: Vyasa's Teaching to Shuka

Verse 1 (13.116.1)

पवित्राणां पवित्रं यच्छ्रेष्ठं लोके च यद्भवेत् । पावनं परमं चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

pavitrāṇāṃ pavitraṃ yacchreṣṭhaṃ loke ca yadbhavet | pāvanaṃ paramaṃ caiva tanme brūhi pitāmaha

Tell me, grandsire: what is the holiest of the holy, the best thing there is in the world, and the supreme purifier?

Verse 2 (13.116.2)

गावो महार्थाः पुण्याश्च तारयन्ति च मानवान् । धारयन्ति प्रजाश्चेमा हविषा पयसा तथा ॥

gāvo mahārthāḥ puṇyāśca tārayanti ca mānavān | dhārayanti prajāścemā haviṣā payasā tathā

Cows are of great worth and full of merit. They carry human beings across, and they sustain all these creatures with oblations and with milk.

Verse 3 (13.116.3)

न हि पुण्यतमं किञ्चिद्गोभ्यो भरतसत्तम । एताः पुण्याः पवित्राश्च त्रिषु लोकेषु सत्तमाः ॥

na hi puṇyatamaṃ kiñcidgobhyo bharatasattama | etāḥ puṇyāḥ pavitrāśca triṣu lokeṣu sattamāḥ

Nothing is holier than cows, O best of the Bharatas. They are meritorious and pure, the best in all three worlds.

Verse 4 (13.116.4)

देवानामुपरिष्टाच्च गावः प्रतिवसन्ति वै । दत्त्वा चैतास्तारयते यान्ति स्वर्गं मनीषिणः ॥

devānāmupariṣṭācca gāvaḥ prativasanti vai | dattvā caitāstārayate yānti svargaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ

Cows dwell in a realm above the gods. By giving them, a giver is carried across, and the wise go to heaven.

Verse 5 (13.116.5)

मान्धाता यौवनाश्वश्च ययातिर्नहुषस्तथा । गा वै ददन्तः सततं सहस्रशतसम्मिताः ॥

māndhātā yauvanāśvaśca yayātirnahuṣastathā | gā vai dadantaḥ satataṃ sahasraśatasammitāḥ

Mandhata, Yauvanashva, Yayati and Nahusha, giving cows without ceasing, in their hundreds of thousands,

Note on the text: Mapped to the critical edition: lines 1-2 = 13.80.5ab and 5c; the second verse (6) continues from 5e.

Verse 6 (13.116.6)

गताः परमकं स्थानं देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम् । अपि चात्र पुरावृत्तं कथयिष्यामि तेऽनघ ॥

gatāḥ paramakaṃ sthānaṃ devairapi sudurlabham | api cātra purāvṛttaṃ kathayiṣyāmi te'nagha

and went to the highest state, hard to reach even for the gods. Here too, sinless one, I shall tell you an old account.

Note on the text: CE: first line = 13.80.5e, second line = 13.80.6a (the critical edition has four star lines after 6a, *378, not in Wikisource).

Verse 7 (13.116.7)

ऋषीणामुत्तमं धीमान्कृष्णद्वैपायनं शुकः । अभिवाद्याह्निकं कृत्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः ॥

ṛṣīṇāmuttamaṃ dhīmānkṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ śukaḥ | abhivādyāhnikaṃ kṛtvā śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ

Shuka, the wise, having greeted Krishna Dvaipayana, best of sages, and having finished his daily rites, pure and with a steady mind,

Verse 8 (13.116.8)

पितरं परिपप्रच्छ दृष्टलोकपरावरम् । को यज्ञः सर्वयज्ञानां वरिष्ठोऽभ्युपलक्ष्यते ॥

pitaraṃ paripapraccha dṛṣṭalokaparāvaram | ko yajñaḥ sarvayajñānāṃ variṣṭho'bhyupalakṣyate

asked his father, who had seen the higher and the lower worlds: “Which sacrifice is seen to be the best of all sacrifices?

Note on the text: CE: first line = 13.80.7e, second line = 13.80.8a. The question to Vyasa is Shuka's; the verse begins with Bhishma's narration, so the printed speaker is kept.

Verse 9 (13.116.9)

किञ्च कृत्वा परं स्थानं प्राप्नुवन्ति मनीषिणः । केन देवाः पवित्रेण स्वर्गमश्नन्ति वा विभो ॥

kiñca kṛtvā paraṃ sthānaṃ prāpnuvanti manīṣiṇaḥ | kena devāḥ pavitreṇa svargamaśnanti vā vibho

“And by doing what do the wise reach the highest state? By what purifier do the gods enjoy heaven, O lord?

Note on the text: Speaker (Shuka) is not printed on the page; his question runs through verses 9-10 (CE 13.80.8c-10c). CE lines: 8c, 9a.

Verse 10 (13.116.10)

किञ्च यज्ञस्य यज्ञत्वं क्व च यज्ञः प्रतिष्ठितः । दानानामुत्तमं किञ्च किञ्च सत्रमितः परम् । पवित्राणां पवित्रं च यत्तद्ब्रूहि महामुने ॥

kiñca yajñasya yajñatvaṃ kva ca yajñaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ | dānānāmuttamaṃ kiñca kiñca satramitaḥ param | pavitrāṇāṃ pavitraṃ ca yattadbrūhi mahāmune

“What makes a sacrifice a sacrifice, and on what is sacrifice founded? What is the best of gifts, and what is the sacrificial session beyond this? And what is the purest of the pure? Tell me that, great sage.”

Note on the text: CE lines: 9c, 10a, 10c (Wikisource keeps three lines in one verse).

Verse 11 (13.116.11)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं व्यासः परमधर्मवित् । पुत्रायाकथयत्सर्वं तत्त्वेन भरतर्षभ ॥

etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ vyāsaḥ paramadharmavit | putrāyākathayatsarvaṃ tattvena bharatarṣabha

Hearing these words, Vyasa, who knew the highest dharma, told his son everything as it truly is, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 12 (13.116.12)

गावः प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां तथा गावः परायणम् । गावः पुण्याः पवित्राश्च गोधनं पावनं तथा ॥

gāvaḥ pratiṣṭhā bhūtānāṃ tathā gāvaḥ parāyaṇam | gāvaḥ puṇyāḥ pavitrāśca godhanaṃ pāvanaṃ tathā

“Cows are the foundation of beings, and cows are their final refuge. Cows are holy and pure, and the wealth of cows is a purifier.

Note on the text: In the critical edition this speech (13.80.12 ff.) is headed as Vyasa speaking to Shuka; Wikisource prints only Bhishma, and the speaker is set to Vyasa here because the verses are his answer to Shuka. CE second line reads “pāvanaṃ dharma eva ca”; Wikisource has a different closing, “गोधनं पावनं तथा” (recension variant, kept).

Verse 13 (13.116.13)

पूर्वमासन्नशृङ्गा वै गाव इत्यनुशश्रुम । शृङ्गार्थे समुपासन्त ताः किल प्रभुमव्ययम् ॥

pūrvamāsannaśṛṅgā vai gāva ityanuśaśruma | śṛṅgārthe samupāsanta tāḥ kila prabhumavyayam

“We have heard that in the beginning cows were hornless. For the sake of horns they waited upon that imperishable Lord.

Note on the text: Corrected पूर्वमासन्नंशृङ्गा → पूर्वमासन्नशृङ्गा (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; CE reads “āsannaśṛṅgā”, which the page's own gloss takes as āsan + aśṛṅgā, “were hornless”). CE has four star lines after 13b (*379) that Wikisource lacks.

Verse 14 (13.116.14)

ततो ब्रह्मा तु गाः सत्रमुपविष्टाः समीक्ष्य ह । ईप्सितं प्रददौ ताभ्यो गोभ्यः प्रत्येकशः प्रभुः ॥

tato brahmā tu gāḥ satramupaviṣṭāḥ samīkṣya ha | īpsitaṃ pradadau tābhyo gobhyaḥ pratyekaśaḥ prabhuḥ

“Then Brahma, the Lord, seeing the cows seated in a long sacrificial session, granted each cow the wish she asked for.

Note on the text: CE reads “prāyam upaviṣṭāḥ” (seated in fasting) for Wikisource “सत्रम्” (a variant noted on the page as झ. पाठः); kept. CE star lines *380 follow 14d and are not in Wikisource.

Verse 15 (13.116.15)

तासां शृङ्गाण्यजायन्त तस्या यादृङ्मनोगतम् । नानावर्णाः शृङ्गवन्त्यस्ता व्यरोचन्त पुत्रक ॥

tāsāṃ śṛṅgāṇyajāyanta tasyā yādṛṅmanogatam | nānāvarṇāḥ śṛṅgavantyastā vyarocanta putraka

“Horns grew on them, each as she had set her heart. Many-coloured and horned, they shone, my child.

Note on the text: Corrected यादृङ्भनोगतम् → यादृङ्मनोगतम् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; CE reads “manogatam”).

Verse 16 (13.116.16)

ब्रह्मणा वरदत्तास्ता हव्यकव्यप्रदाः शुभाः । पुण्याः पवित्राः सुभगा दिव्यसंस्थानलक्षणाः ॥

brahmaṇā varadattāstā havyakavyapradāḥ śubhāḥ | puṇyāḥ pavitrāḥ subhagā divyasaṃsthānalakṣaṇāḥ

“Given boons by Brahma, they became the givers of oblations to the gods and offerings to the ancestors, auspicious, holy, pure and fortunate, with divine forms and marks.

Verse 17 (13.116.17)

गावस्तेजो महद्दिव्यं गवां दानं प्रशस्यते । ये चैताः सम्प्रयच्छन्ति साधवो वीतमत्सराः ॥

gāvastejo mahaddivyaṃ gavāṃ dānaṃ praśasyate | ye caitāḥ samprayacchanti sādhavo vītamatsarāḥ

“Cows are a great divine radiance, and the giving of cows is praised. Those good men, free of envy, who give them,

Note on the text: CE: first line = 13.80.16e, second line = 17a.

Verse 18 (13.116.18)

ते वै सुकृतिनः प्रोक्ताः सर्वदानप्रदाश्च ते । गवां लोकं तथा पुण्यमाप्नुवन्ति च तेऽनघ ॥

te vai sukṛtinaḥ proktāḥ sarvadānapradāśca te | gavāṃ lokaṃ tathā puṇyamāpnuvanti ca te'nagha

“are called doers of good, and givers of every gift; they reach the sacred world of the cows, sinless one.

Note on the text: CE lines: 17c, 17e.

Verse 19 (13.116.19)

यत्र वृक्षा मधुफला दिव्यपुष्पफलोपगाः । पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि दिव्यानि द्विजसत्तम ॥

yatra vṛkṣā madhuphalā divyapuṣpaphalopagāḥ | puṣpāṇi ca sugandhīni divyāni dvijasattama

“There the trees bear honeyed fruit and are laden with divine flowers and fruits, and the flowers are fragrant and divine, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 20 (13.116.20)

सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सर्वकाञ्चनवालुकाः । सर्वर्तुसुखसंस्पर्शा निष्पङ्का निरजाः शुभाः ॥

sarvā maṇimayī bhūmiḥ sarvakāñcanavālukāḥ | sarvartusukhasaṃsparśā niṣpaṅkā nirajāḥ śubhāḥ

“The whole ground there is made of jewels, with sand of gold, pleasant to the touch in every season, free of mud and of dust, and auspicious.

Note on the text: Corrected मणिभयी → मणिमयी (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; CE reads “maṇimayī”).

Verse 21 (13.116.21)

रक्तोत्पलवनैश्चैव मणिखण्डैर्हिरण्मयैः । तरुणादित्यसङ्काशैर्भान्ति तत्र जलाशयाः ॥

raktotpalavanaiścaiva maṇikhaṇḍairhiraṇmayaiḥ | taruṇādityasaṅkāśairbhānti tatra jalāśayāḥ

“The pools there shine with groves of red lotuses and with golden pieces of jewels, bright as the young sun,

Verse 22 (13.116.22)

महार्हमणिपत्रैश्च काञ्चनप्रभकेसरैः । नीलोत्पलविमिश्रैश्च सरोभिर्बहुपङ्कजैः ॥

mahārhamaṇipatraiśca kāñcanaprabhakesaraiḥ | nīlotpalavimiśraiśca sarobhirbahupaṅkajaiḥ

“with ponds of many lotuses mixed with blue lotuses, whose leaves are priceless jewels and whose filaments gleam like gold,

Verse 23 (13.116.23)

करवीरवनैः फुल्लैः सहस्रावर्तसंवृतैः । सन्तानकवनैः फुल्लैर्वृक्षेश्च समलङ्कृताः ॥

karavīravanaiḥ phullaiḥ sahasrāvartasaṃvṛtaiḥ | santānakavanaiḥ phullairvṛkṣeśca samalaṅkṛtāḥ

“adorned with blossoming oleander groves encircled by thousands of whorls, and with blossoming santanaka groves and trees.

Verse 24 (13.116.24)

निर्मलाभिश्च मुक्ताभिर्मणिभिश्च महाप्रभैः । उद्भूतपुलिनास्तत्र जातरूपैश्च निम्नगाः ॥

nirmalābhiśca muktābhirmaṇibhiśca mahāprabhaiḥ | udbhūtapulināstatra jātarūpaiśca nimnagāḥ

“The rivers there have banks heaped up with clear pearls, with brilliant jewels, and with gold.

Note on the text: Corrected निर्मिलाभिश्च → निर्मलाभिश्च (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads “nirmalābhiś”). Corrected जातरूपैश्चि → जातरूपैश्च (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE reads “jātarūpaiś ca”).

Verse 25 (13.116.25)

सर्वरत्नमयैश्चित्रैरवगाढा द्रुमोत्तमैः । जातरूपमयैश्चान्यैर्हुताशनसमप्रभैः ॥

sarvaratnamayaiścitrairavagāḍhā drumottamaiḥ | jātarūpamayaiścānyairhutāśanasamaprabhaiḥ

“They run deep among the finest trees, wondrous, made wholly of gems, and among others made of gold, blazing like fire.

Verse 26 (13.116.26)

सौवर्णगिरयस्तत्र मणिरत्नशिलोच्चयाः । सर्वरत्नमयैर्भान्ति शृङ्गैश्चारुभिरुच्छ्रितैः ॥

sauvarṇagirayastatra maṇiratnaśiloccayāḥ | sarvaratnamayairbhānti śṛṅgaiścārubhirucchritaiḥ

“There are golden mountains there, with heaps of jewelled rock, shining with lofty, lovely peaks made of every gem.

Note on the text: Corrected सौवर्णि गिरयस्तत्र → सौवर्णगिरयस्तत्र (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space and vowel sign; CE reads “sauvarṇagirayas tatra”).

Verse 27 (13.116.27)

नित्यपुष्पफलास्तत्र नगाः पत्ररथाकुलाः । दिव्यगन्धरसैः पुष्पैः फलैश्च भरतर्षभ ॥

nityapuṣpaphalāstatra nagāḥ patrarathākulāḥ | divyagandharasaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalaiśca bharatarṣabha

“There the trees always bear flowers and fruit and are thronged with birds, rich in divine scents and savours in their blossoms and fruits, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 28 (13.116.28)

रमन्ते पुण्यकर्माणस्तत्र नित्यं युधिष्ठिर । सर्वकामसमृद्धार्था निःशोका गतमन्यवः ॥

ramante puṇyakarmāṇastatra nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | sarvakāmasamṛddhārthā niḥśokā gatamanyavaḥ

“There the doers of good deeds delight forever, O Yudhishthira, with every desire fulfilled, free of sorrow and of anger,

Note on the text: The speech here addresses Yudhishthira (also in verses 28-30), though it is Vyasa's answer to Shuka in the frame; the critical edition has the same vocatives under Vyasa's heading.

Verse 29 (13.116.29)

विमानेषु विचित्रेषु रमणीयेषु भारत । मोदन्ते पुण्यकर्माणो विहरन्तो यशस्विनः ॥

vimāneṣu vicitreṣu ramaṇīyeṣu bhārata | modante puṇyakarmāṇo viharanto yaśasvinaḥ

“rejoicing in wondrous and lovely celestial cars, O Bharata, famous and moving about at will.

Note on the text: Corrected विरहन्तो → विहरन्तो (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads “viharanto”).

Verse 30 (13.116.30)

उपक्रीडन्ति तान्राजञ्शुभाश्चाप्सरसां गणाः । एतान्लोकानवाप्नोति गां दत्त्वा वै युधिष्ठिर ॥

upakrīḍanti tānrājañśubhāścāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | etānlokānavāpnoti gāṃ dattvā vai yudhiṣṭhira

“Bands of lovely apsarases play about them, O king. One gains these worlds by giving a cow, Yudhishthira.

Verse 31 (13.116.31)

यासामधिपतिः पूषा मारुतो बलवान्बले । ऐश्वर्ये वरुणो राजा ता मां पान्तु युगन्धराः ॥

yāsāmadhipatiḥ pūṣā māruto balavānbale | aiśvarye varuṇo rājā tā māṃ pāntu yugandharāḥ

“‘May those cows whose lord is Pushan, whose strength is the mighty Maruta, and whose sovereignty is King Varuna, those bearers of the yoke, protect me.’

Verse 32 (13.116.32)

सुरूपा बहुरूपाश्च विश्वरूपाश्च मातरः । प्राजापत्या इति ब्रह्मञ्जपेन्नित्यं यतव्रतः ॥

surūpā bahurūpāśca viśvarūpāśca mātaraḥ | prājāpatyā iti brahmañjapennityaṃ yatavrataḥ

“‘Surupa, Bahurupa and Vishvarupa, the mothers, the daughters of Prajapati’: so one should recite always, O brahmin, keeping to his vows.

Verse 33 (13.116.33)

गाश्च शुश्रूषते यश्च समन्वेति च सर्वशः । तस्मै तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति वरानपि सुदुर्लभान् ॥

gāśca śuśrūṣate yaśca samanveti ca sarvaśaḥ | tasmai tuṣṭāḥ prayacchanti varānapi sudurlabhān

“To one who serves the cows and follows them everywhere, they are pleased and grant even boons that are very hard to obtain.

Verse 34 (13.116.34)

द्रुह्येन्न मनसा वाऽपि गोषु ता हि सुखप्रदाः । अर्चयेत सदा चैव नमस्कारैश्च पूजयेत् ॥

druhyenna manasā vā'pi goṣu tā hi sukhapradāḥ | arcayeta sadā caiva namaskāraiśca pūjayet

“One should never wrong them even in thought, for cows give happiness. One should honour them always and worship them with salutations;

Note on the text: Corrected द्रुह्येन मनसा → द्रुह्येन्न मनसा (misprint in Wikisource; the negative न् is lost; CE reads “na druhyen manasā”).

Verse 35 (13.116.35)

दान्तः प्रीतमना नित्यं गवां व्युष्टिं तथाऽश्नुते । त्र्यहमुष्णं पिबेन्मूत्रं त्र्यहमुष्णं पिबेत्पयः ॥

dāntaḥ prītamanā nityaṃ gavāṃ vyuṣṭiṃ tathā'śnute | tryahamuṣṇaṃ pibenmūtraṃ tryahamuṣṇaṃ pibetpayaḥ

“self-controlled and glad of heart always, he gains prosperity in cows. For three days let him drink hot urine, for three days hot milk;

Note on the text: CE: first line = 13.80.33e, second line = 36a.

Verse 36 (13.116.36)

गवामुष्णं पयः पीत्वा त्र्यहमुष्णं घृतं पिबेत् । त्र्यहमुष्णं घृतं पीत्वा वायुभक्षो भवेत्र्यहम् ॥

gavāmuṣṇaṃ payaḥ pītvā tryahamuṣṇaṃ ghṛtaṃ pibet | tryahamuṣṇaṃ ghṛtaṃ pītvā vāyubhakṣo bhavetryaham

“having drunk the cows' hot milk, for three days hot ghee; and having drunk hot ghee for three days, let him live on air for three days.

Note on the text: Corrected विबेत् → पिबेत् (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads “pibet”). CE lines: 36c, 36e.

Verse 37 (13.116.37)

येन देवाः पवित्रेण भुञ्जते लोकमुत्तमम् । यत्पवित्रं पवित्राणां तद्धृतं शिरसा वहेत् ॥

yena devāḥ pavitreṇa bhuñjate lokamuttamam | yatpavitraṃ pavitrāṇāṃ taddhṛtaṃ śirasā vahet

“The purifier by which the gods enjoy the highest world, that which purifies even the purifiers, that ghee one should bear on one's head.

Note on the text: Corrected योन देवाः पवित्रेणि → येन देवाः पवित्रेण (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowels; CE reads “yena devāḥ pavitreṇa”).

Verse 38 (13.116.38)

घृतेन जुहुयादग्निं घृतेन स्वस्ति वाचयेत् । घृतं प्राशेद्धृतं दद्याद्गवां पुष्टिं तथाऽश्नुते ॥

ghṛtena juhuyādagniṃ ghṛtena svasti vācayet | ghṛtaṃ prāśeddhṛtaṃ dadyādgavāṃ puṣṭiṃ tathā'śnute

“With ghee one should offer into the fire and with ghee have blessings pronounced; one should eat ghee and give ghee, and so gain increase of cows.

Verse 39 (13.116.39)

निर्हृतैश्च यवैर्गोभिर्मासं प्रसृतयावकः । ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं सर्वमेतेन शुध्यते ॥

nirhṛtaiśca yavairgobhirmāsaṃ prasṛtayāvakaḥ | brahmahatyāsamaṃ pāpaṃ sarvametena śudhyate

“One who for a month lives on a measure of barley gruel made from barley picked out of cow dung is cleansed by this of every sin, even one equal to the killing of a brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रश्रितयावकः → प्रसृतयावकः (misprint in Wikisource; श्र for सृ; “prashrita” gives no sense here, CE reads “prasṛtayāvakaḥ”).

Verse 40 (13.116.40)

पराभवार्थं दैत्यानां देवैः शौचमिदं कृतम् । ते देवत्वमपि प्राप्ताः संसिद्धाश्च महाबलाः ॥

parābhavārthaṃ daityānāṃ devaiḥ śaucamidaṃ kṛtam | te devatvamapi prāptāḥ saṃsiddhāśca mahābalāḥ

“This purification was devised by the gods for the defeat of the Daityas; by it they too attained godhood, perfected and mighty.

Verse 41 (13.116.41)

गावः पवित्राः पुण्याश्च पावनं परमं महत् । ताश्च दत्त्वा द्विजातिभ्यो नरः स्वर्गमुपाश्नुते ॥

gāvaḥ pavitrāḥ puṇyāśca pāvanaṃ paramaṃ mahat | tāśca dattvā dvijātibhyo naraḥ svargamupāśnute

“Cows are holy and pure, a great and supreme purifier. Having given them to the twice-born, a man wins heaven.

Verse 42 (13.116.42)

गवां मध्ये शुचिर्भूत्वा गोमतीं मनसा जपेत् । पूताभिरद्भिराचम्य शुचिर्भवति निर्मलः ॥

gavāṃ madhye śucirbhūtvā gomatīṃ manasā japet | pūtābhiradbhirācamya śucirbhavati nirmalaḥ

“Standing purified in the midst of cows, let him recite the Gomati in his mind; having sipped purified water he becomes pure and stainless.

Note on the text: Corrected राचम्यि → राचम्य (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE reads “ācamya”).

Verse 43 (13.116.43)

अग्निमध्ये गवां मध्ये ब्राह्मणानां च संसदि । विद्यावेदव्रतस्नाता ब्राह्मणाः पुण्यकर्मिणः ॥

agnimadhye gavāṃ madhye brāhmaṇānāṃ ca saṃsadi | vidyāvedavratasnātā brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyakarmiṇaḥ

“In the midst of fire, in the midst of cows, in an assembly of brahmins, the brahmins of virtuous deeds, bathed in learning, the Vedas and vows,

Note on the text: Corrected विद्यावेदप्रतस्नाता → विद्यावेदव्रतस्नाता (misprint in Wikisource; प्र for व्र; CE reads “vidyāvedavratasnātā”).

Verse 44 (13.116.44)

अध्यापयेरञ्शिष्यान्वै गोमतीं यज्ञसम्मिताम् । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो भूत्वा गोमतीं लभते वरम् ॥

adhyāpayerañśiṣyānvai gomatīṃ yajñasammitām | trirātropoṣito bhūtvā gomatīṃ labhate varam

“should teach their pupils the Gomati, which is equal to a sacrifice. Having fasted for three nights, he gains the boon of the Gomati.

Note on the text: CE reads “śrutvā” (having heard) for Wikisource “भूत्वा”; recension variant, kept.

Verse 45 (13.116.45)

पुत्रकामश्च लभते पुत्रं धनमथापि वा । पतिकामा च भर्तारं सर्वकामांश्च मानवः ॥

putrakāmaśca labhate putraṃ dhanamathāpi vā | patikāmā ca bhartāraṃ sarvakāmāṃśca mānavaḥ

“One who wishes for a son gains a son, or wealth; a woman who wishes for a husband gains a husband; and a man gains all his desires.

Note on the text: Corrected पुत्रिकामश्च → पुत्रकामश्च (misprint in Wikisource; for a man “wishing for a son”; CE reads “putrakāmaś ca”).

Verse 46 (13.116.46)

गावस्तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति सेविता वै न संशयः । एवमेता महाभागा यज्ञियाः सर्वकामदाः । रोहिण्य इति जानीहि नैताभ्यो विद्यते परम् ॥

gāvastuṣṭāḥ prayacchanti sevitā vai na saṃśayaḥ | evametā mahābhāgā yajñiyāḥ sarvakāmadāḥ | rohiṇya iti jānīhi naitābhyo vidyate param

“Cows, when served, are pleased and grant everything; there is no doubt of it. Know them thus: the great, sacrificial, all-granting ones, the Rohinis. There is nothing higher than they.”

Note on the text: Corrected एवमेतां महाभागा → एवमेता महाभागा (misprint in Wikisource; wrong case ending; CE reads “evam etā mahābhāgā”). CE lines: 43e, 44a, 44c.

Verse 47 (13.116.47)

इत्युक्तः स महातेजाः शुकः पित्रा महात्मना । पूजयामास तां नित्यं तस्मात्त्वमपि पूजय ॥

ityuktaḥ sa mahātejāḥ śukaḥ pitrā mahātmanā | pūjayāmāsa tāṃ nityaṃ tasmāttvamapi pūjaya

Thus instructed by his great-souled father, the radiant Shuka worshipped the cow ever after; therefore you too should worship her.