Indra Drinks Surabhi's Milk; the Gods Dwell in the Cow

Verse 1 (13.119.1)

सुरभ्यास्तु तदा देव्याः कीर्तिर्लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती । मेधा च प्रवरा देवी याश्चतस्रोऽभिविश्रुताः ॥

surabhyāstu tadā devyāḥ kīrtirlakṣmīḥ sarasvatī | medhā ca pravarā devī yāścatasro'bhiviśrutāḥ

“Of the goddess Surabhi, Kirti, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Medha, the foremost goddess, are the four who are famed.

Note on the text: Removed the stray wiki mark and the speaker heading “युधिष्ठिर उवाच” that slipped into the text (speaker set instead). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0108–0109).

Verse 2 (13.119.2)

पृथग्गोभ्यः किमेताः स्युरुताहो गोषु संश्रिताः । देवाः के वाऽऽश्रिता गोषु तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

pṛthaggobhyaḥ kimetāḥ syurutāho goṣu saṃśritāḥ | devāḥ ke vā''śritā goṣu tanme brūhi pitāmaha

Are they distinct from the cows, or do they dwell within the cows? And which gods dwell in the cows? Tell me that, grandsire.”

Note on the text: Speaker (Yudhishthira) not given in the input; the question continues from verse 1. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0110–0111).

Verse 3 (13.119.3)

यं देवं संश्रिता गावस्तं देवं देवसंज्ञितम् । यद्यद्देवाश्रितं दैवं तत्तद्दैवं द्विजा विदुः ॥

yaṃ devaṃ saṃśritā gāvastaṃ devaṃ devasaṃjñitam | yadyaddevāśritaṃ daivaṃ tattaddaivaṃ dvijā viduḥ

Whichever god the cows rest in, that is called the god of the cows; and whatever divinity depends on a god, the twice-born know that to be that god's own.

Note on the text: Obscure in the original (CE reads the same); rendered in its general sense. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0112–0113).

Verse 4 (13.119.4)

सर्वेषामेव देवानां पूर्वं किल समुद्भवे । अमृतार्थे सुरपतिः सुरभिं समुपस्थितः ॥

sarveṣāmeva devānāṃ pūrvaṃ kila samudbhave | amṛtārthe surapatiḥ surabhiṃ samupasthitaḥ

In the beginning, at the birth of all the gods, the lord of the gods came to Surabhi for the sake of nectar.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0114–0115).

Verse 5 (13.119.5)

इच्छेयममृतं दत्तं त्वया देवि रसाधिकम् । त्वत्प्रसादाच्छिवं मह्यममरत्वं भवेदिति ॥

iccheyamamṛtaṃ dattaṃ tvayā devi rasādhikam | tvatprasādācchivaṃ mahyamamaratvaṃ bhavediti

“Goddess, I wish for the nectar you give, rich in savour; by your grace may I have an auspicious immortality.”

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0116–0117).

Verse 6 (13.119.6)

वत्सो भूत्वा सुरपते पिबस्व प्रस्रवं मम । ततोऽमरत्वमपि तत्स्थानमैन्द्रमवाप्स्यसि ॥

vatso bhūtvā surapate pibasva prasravaṃ mama | tato'maratvamapi tatsthānamaindramavāpsyasi

“Become a calf, lord of the gods, and drink my flowing milk; then you will gain immortality and that seat of Indra.

Note on the text: Corrected सुपरते → सुरपते (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters; CE reads “surapate”). Corrected तस्थानमैन्द्रमवा → तत्स्थानमैन्द्रमवा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त; CE reads “tat sthānam aindram”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0118–0119).

Verse 7 (13.119.7)

न च ते वृत्रहन्युद्धे व्यथाऽरिभ्यो भविष्यति । बलार्थमात्मनः शक्र प्रस्रवं पिब मे विभो ॥

na ca te vṛtrahanyuddhe vyathā'ribhyo bhaviṣyati | balārthamātmanaḥ śakra prasravaṃ piba me vibho

“And, slayer of Vritra, you will feel no distress from your enemies in battle. Drink my flowing milk for your own strength, O mighty Shakra.”

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0120–0121).

Verse 8 (13.119.8)

ततोऽपिबत्स्तनं तस्याः सुरभ्याः सुरसत्तमः । अमरत्वं सुरूपत्वं बलं च पदमुत्तमम् ॥

tato'pibatstanaṃ tasyāḥ surabhyāḥ surasattamaḥ | amaratvaṃ surūpatvaṃ balaṃ ca padamuttamam

Then the best of the gods drank her, Surabhi's, milk, and gained immortality, beauty of form, and a strength and place beyond compare.

Note on the text: Corrected ततोऽपिबत्स्नं → ततोऽपिबत्स्तनं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त; CE reads “adhayat stanam”, “drank the udder”). Corrected चापदनुत्तमम् → च पदमुत्तमम् (misprint in Wikisource; garbled letters; CE reads “ca padam uttamam”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0122–0123).

Verse 9 (13.119.9)

पुरंदरोऽमृतं पीत्वा प्रहृष्टः समुपस्थितः । पुत्रोऽहं तव भद्रं ते ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते ॥

puraṃdaro'mṛtaṃ pītvā prahṛṣṭaḥ samupasthitaḥ | putro'haṃ tava bhadraṃ te brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te

Having drunk the nectar, Purandara came forward, glad, and said, “I am your son; may good come to you. Tell me what I may do for you.”

Note on the text: Second line is Indra's speech inside Bhishma's narration; no heading is printed, so the verse stays with Bhishma. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0124–0125).

Verse 10 (13.119.10)

कृतं पुत्र त्वया सर्वमुपयाहि त्रिविष्टपम् । पालयस्व सुरान्सर्वाञ्जहि ये सुरशत्रवः ॥

kṛtaṃ putra tvayā sarvamupayāhi triviṣṭapam | pālayasva surānsarvāñjahi ye suraśatravaḥ

“Son, you have done everything; go back to heaven. Protect all the gods and slay those who are the enemies of the gods.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0126–0127).

Verse 11 (13.119.11)

न च गोब्राह्मणेऽवज्ञा कार्या ते शान्तिमिच्छता । गोब्राह्मणस्य निश्वासः शोषयेदपि देवताः ॥

na ca gobrāhmaṇe'vajñā kāryā te śāntimicchatā | gobrāhmaṇasya niśvāsaḥ śoṣayedapi devatāḥ

“If you wish for peace, never show disrespect to the cow or the brahmin; the sigh of a cow or a brahmin can wither even the gods.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0128–0129).

Verse 12 (13.119.12)

गोब्राह्मणप्रियो नित्यं स्वस्तिशब्दमुदाहरन् । पृथिव्यामन्तरिक्षे च नाकपृष्ठे च विक्रमेत् ॥

gobrāhmaṇapriyo nityaṃ svastiśabdamudāharan | pṛthivyāmantarikṣe ca nākapṛṣṭhe ca vikramet

“Always devoted to the cow and the brahmin, uttering words of blessing, you may go forth on the earth, in the sky and in the vault of heaven.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0130–0131).

Verse 13 (13.119.13)

यच्च तेऽन्यद्भवेत्कृत्यं तन्मे ब्रूयाः समासतः । तत्ते सर्वं करिष्यामि सत्येनैतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

yacca te'nyadbhavetkṛtyaṃ tanme brūyāḥ samāsataḥ | tatte sarvaṃ kariṣyāmi satyenaitadbravīmi te

“Whatever other task you have, tell it to me briefly; I shall do all of it for you. I say this in truth.”

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0132–0133).

Verse 14 (13.119.14)

इच्छेयं गोषु नियतं वस्तुं देवि ब्रवीमि ते । एभिः सुरगणैः सार्धं ममानुग्रहमाचर ॥

iccheyaṃ goṣu niyataṃ vastuṃ devi bravīmi te | ebhiḥ suragaṇaiḥ sārdhaṃ mamānugrahamācara

“I wish to dwell always in the cows, goddess; I tell you so. Show me your favour, together with these hosts of gods.”

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0134–0135).

Verse 15 (13.119.15)

गवां शरीरं प्रत्यक्षमेतत्कौशिक लक्षये । यो यत्रोत्सहते वस्तुं स तत्र वसतां सुरः ॥

gavāṃ śarīraṃ pratyakṣametatkauśika lakṣaye | yo yatrotsahate vastuṃ sa tatra vasatāṃ suraḥ

“The body of the cows is plain to see, Kaushika, as I observe: whoever of the gods wishes to dwell in any part may dwell there.

Note on the text: Corrected लक्ष्ये → लक्षये (misprint in Wikisource; extra conjunct sign; CE reads “lakṣaye”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0136–0137).

Verse 16 (13.119.16)

सर्वं पवित्रं परमं गवां गात्रं सुपूजितम् । तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते यथा त्वं शक्र मन्यसे ॥

sarvaṃ pavitraṃ paramaṃ gavāṃ gātraṃ supūjitam | tathā kuruṣva bhadraṃ te yathā tvaṃ śakra manyase

“The whole body of the cow, well honoured, is supremely pure. Do as you think fit, Shakra; good be with you.”

Note on the text: CE: this verse = 0138 and 0139 (Surabhi's speech); the Bhishma heading follows 0139 there, which agrees with Wikisource's heading before the next verse. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0138–0139).

Verse 17 (13.119.17)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुरभ्याः सुरसत्तमः । सह सर्वैः सुरगणैरभजत्सौरभीं प्रजाम् ॥

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā surabhyāḥ surasattamaḥ | saha sarvaiḥ suragaṇairabhajatsaurabhīṃ prajām

Hearing her words, the best of the gods, with all the hosts of the gods, took up residence in the offspring of Surabhi.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0140–0141).

Verse 18 (13.119.18)

शृङ्गे वक्त्रे च जिह्वायां देवराजः समाविशत् । सर्वच्छिद्रेषु पवनः पादेषु मरुतां गणाः ॥

śṛṅge vaktre ca jihvāyāṃ devarājaḥ samāviśat | sarvacchidreṣu pavanaḥ pādeṣu marutāṃ gaṇāḥ

The king of the gods entered the horns, the mouth and the tongue; the Wind entered all the openings, and the hosts of the Maruts the feet.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0142–0143).

Verse 19 (13.119.19)

ककुदं सर्वगो रुद्रः कुक्षौ चैव हुताशनः । सरस्वती स्तनेष्वग्र्या श्रीः पुरीषे जगत्प्रिया ॥

kakudaṃ sarvago rudraḥ kukṣau caiva hutāśanaḥ | sarasvatī staneṣvagryā śrīḥ purīṣe jagatpriyā

Rudra, who goes everywhere, took the hump, and Fire the belly; Sarasvati took the chief place in the udders, and Shri, dear to the world, in the dung.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0144–0145).

Verse 20 (13.119.20)

मूत्रे कीर्तिश्च गङ्गा च मेधा पयसि शाश्वती । वक्त्रे सोमश्च वै देवो हृदये भगवान्यमः ॥

mūtre kīrtiśca gaṅgā ca medhā payasi śāśvatī | vaktre somaśca vai devo hṛdaye bhagavānyamaḥ

Fame and the Ganga are in the urine, and Medha, the eternal, in the milk; the god Soma is in the mouth, and the Lord Yama in the heart.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0146–0147).

Verse 21 (13.119.21)

धर्मः पुच्छे क्रिया लोम्नि भास्करश्चक्षुषी श्रितः । सिद्धाः सन्धिषु सिद्धिश्च तपस्तेजश्च चेष्टने ॥

dharmaḥ pucche kriyā lomni bhāskaraścakṣuṣī śritaḥ | siddhāḥ sandhiṣu siddhiśca tapastejaśca ceṣṭane

Dharma is in the tail, Action in the hair, Bhaskara has settled in the two eyes; the Siddhas are in the joints, Success too, and austerity and radiance in her movement.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0148–0149).

Verse 22 (13.119.22)

एवं सर्वे सुरगणा नियता गात्रवर्त्मसु । महती देवता गावो ब्राह्मणैः परिसंस्कृताः ॥

evaṃ sarve suragaṇā niyatā gātravartmasu | mahatī devatā gāvo brāhmaṇaiḥ parisaṃskṛtāḥ

Thus all the hosts of the gods abide, fixed in the pathways of her limbs. The cows are a great deity, refined by the brahmins.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0150–0151).

Verse 23 (13.119.23)

गामाश्रयन्ति सहिता देवा हि प्रभविष्णवः । किमासां सर्वभावेन विदध्याद्भगवान्प्रियम् ॥

gāmāśrayanti sahitā devā hi prabhaviṣṇavaḥ | kimāsāṃ sarvabhāvena vidadhyādbhagavānpriyam

The gods, powerful and united, take refuge in the cow. What favour could the blessed Lord not do for them with his whole heart?

Note on the text: The second line differs from the critical edition (“kim anyat sarvakāmena na vidadhyād bhavān priyam”) and reads obscurely in Wikisource; kept as printed and given its plain sense. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0152–0153).

Verse 24 (13.119.24)

भवांश्च परया भक्त्या पूजयस्व नरेश्वर । गावस्तु परमं लोके पवित्रं पावनं हविः ॥

bhavāṃśca parayā bhaktyā pūjayasva nareśvara | gāvastu paramaṃ loke pavitraṃ pāvanaṃ haviḥ

And you too, O lord of men, should worship them with the highest devotion; for cows are the supreme purifier in the world, the purifying oblation.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0154–0155).

Verse 25 (13.119.25)

निपात्य भक्षितः स्वर्गाद्भार्गवः फेनपः किल । स च प्राणान्पुनर्लब्ध्वा ततो गोलोकमाश्रितः ॥

nipātya bhakṣitaḥ svargādbhārgavaḥ phenapaḥ kila | sa ca prāṇānpunarlabdhvā tato golokamāśritaḥ

It is told that Bhargava Phenapa, having been struck down from heaven, was eaten; and that he regained his life and then took refuge in the world of cows.”

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark and doubled danda that had slipped in after the last word. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0156–0157).