Shri Makes Her Home in Cow-Dung

Verse 1 (13.128.1)

मया गवां पुरीषं वै श्रिया जुष्टमिति श्रुतम् । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं संशयोऽत्र हि मे महान् ॥

mayā gavāṃ purīṣaṃ vai śriyā juṣṭamiti śrutam | etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ saṃśayo'tra hi me mahān

I have heard that Shri takes delight in the dung of cows. I wish to hear about this, for I am greatly in doubt about it.

Verse 2 (13.128.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । गोभिर्नृपेह संवादं श्रिया भारतसत्तम ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | gobhirnṛpeha saṃvādaṃ śriyā bhāratasattama

On this they recount an ancient tale, the conversation of Shri with the cows, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected गोभिर्नृपेहं → गोभिर्नृपेह (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara after ह; the critical edition reads nṛpeha).

Verse 3 (13.128.3)

श्रीः कृत्वेह वपुः कान्तं गोमध्येषु विवेश ह । गावोऽथ विस्मितास्तस्या दृष्ट्वा रूपस्य सम्पदम् ॥

śrīḥ kṛtveha vapuḥ kāntaṃ gomadhyeṣu viveśa ha | gāvo'tha vismitāstasyā dṛṣṭvā rūpasya sampadam

Shri, assuming a lovely form, went in among the cows; and the cows, seeing the splendour of her beauty, were struck with wonder.

Verse 4 (13.128.4)

काऽसि देवि कुतो वा त्वं रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । विस्मिताः स्म महाभागे तव रूपस्य सम्पदा ॥

kā'si devi kuto vā tvaṃ rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi | vismitāḥ sma mahābhāge tava rūpasya sampadā

"Who are you, goddess, and where do you come from, whose beauty has no equal on earth? We are amazed, O fortunate one, at the splendour of your form.

Verse 5 (13.128.5)

इच्छामस्त्वां वयं ज्ञातुं का त्वं क्व च गमिष्यसि । तत्त्वेन हि सुवर्णाभे सर्वमेतद्ब्रवीहि नः ॥

icchāmastvāṃ vayaṃ jñātuṃ kā tvaṃ kva ca gamiṣyasi | tattvena hi suvarṇābhe sarvametadbravīhi naḥ

We wish to know who you are and where you will go. Tell us all this truly, O golden-hued one."

Verse 6 (13.128.6)

लोकस्य कान्तिर्भद्रं वः श्रीर्नामाहं परिश्रुता । मया दैत्याः परित्यक्ता विनष्टाः शाश्वतीः समाः ॥

lokasya kāntirbhadraṃ vaḥ śrīrnāmāhaṃ pariśrutā | mayā daityāḥ parityaktā vinaṣṭāḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ

"I am the beauty of the world, and good fortune be to you; I am known by the name Shri. Abandoned by me, the daityas perished for endless years.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 correspond to CE 13.81.6a,c; Wikisource's first line (लोकस्य कान्तिर्भद्रं वः श्रीर्नामाहं परिश्रुता) is a recension variant of the CE's lokakāntāsmi bhadraṃ vaḥ śrīr nāmneha pariśrutā, kept.

Verse 7 (13.128.7)

मयाऽभिपन्ना देवाश्च मोदन्ते शाश्वतीः समाः । इन्द्रो विवस्वान्सोमश्च विष्णुरापोऽग्निरेव च ॥

mayā'bhipannā devāśca modante śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | indro vivasvānsomaśca viṣṇurāpo'gnireva ca

The gods who have won my favour rejoice for endless years: Indra, Vivasvan, Soma, Vishnu, the Waters, and Agni too.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text for line 1: it is the CE's star passage 13,081.006d*0383_01 (mayābhipannā devāś ca modante śāśvatīḥ samāḥ), printed after 13.81.6d; line 2 is CE 13.81.7a.

Verse 8 (13.128.8)

मयाऽभिपन्ना दीप्यन्ते ऋषयो देवतास्तथा । यान्नाविशाम्यहं गावस्ते विनश्यन्ति सर्वशः ॥

mayā'bhipannā dīpyante ṛṣayo devatāstathā | yānnāviśāmyahaṃ gāvaste vinaśyanti sarvaśaḥ

Seers and deities shine when they have my favour. Those whom I do not enter, O cows, are ruined in every way.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.81.7c (Wikisource दीप्यन्ते for CE ṛdhyante, a recension variant); line 2 (यान्नाविशाम्यहं …) is a recension variant of CE 13.81.8a (yāṃś ca dviṣāmy ahaṃ …). Both kept.

Verse 9 (13.128.9)

धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च मया जुष्टाः सुखान्विताः । एवंप्रभावां मां गावो विजानीत सुखप्रदाम् ॥

dharmaścārthaśca kāmaśca mayā juṣṭāḥ sukhānvitāḥ | evaṃprabhāvāṃ māṃ gāvo vijānīta sukhapradām

Dharma, wealth and desire, when favoured by me, are joined with happiness. Know me, O cows, as one of such power, the giver of happiness.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a recension variant of CE 13.81.8c (the CE reads dharmārthakāmahīnāś ca te bhavanty asukhānvitāḥ, the opposite sense); line 2 = CE 13.81.9a. Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 10 (13.128.10)

इच्छामि चापि युष्मासु वस्तुं सर्वासु नित्यदा । आगत्य प्रार्थये युष्माञ्श्रीजुष्टा भवताऽनघाः ॥

icchāmi cāpi yuṣmāsu vastuṃ sarvāsu nityadā | āgatya prārthaye yuṣmāñśrījuṣṭā bhavatā'naghāḥ

And I wish to dwell in all of you, always. I have come to ask it of you: be favoured by Shri, O blameless ones."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.81.9c,e (Wikisource आगत्य प्रार्थये युष्मान् for CE āgatā prārthayānāhaṃ, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 11 (13.128.11)

अध्रुवा चपला च त्वं सामान्या बहुभिः सह । न त्वामिच्छाम भद्रं ते गम्यतां यत्र रोचते ॥

adhruvā capalā ca tvaṃ sāmānyā bahubhiḥ saha | na tvāmicchāma bhadraṃ te gamyatāṃ yatra rocate

"You are unsteady and fickle, and common to many. We do not want you; good fortune to you, go where you please.

Verse 12 (13.128.12)

वपुष्मन्त्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयाऽद्य वै । यथेष्टं गम्यतां तत्र कृतकार्या वयं त्वया ॥

vapuṣmantyo vayaṃ sarvāḥ kimasmākaṃ tvayā'dya vai | yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatāṃ tatra kṛtakāryā vayaṃ tvayā

We are all of lovely form; what need have we of you now? Go wherever you wish; we have no use for you."

Verse 13 (13.128.13)

किमेतद्वः क्षमं गावो यन्मां नेहाभिनन्दथ । न मां सम्प्रतिगृह्णीध्वं कस्माद्वै दुर्लभां सतीम् ॥

kimetadvaḥ kṣamaṃ gāvo yanmāṃ nehābhinandatha | na māṃ sampratigṛhṇīdhvaṃ kasmādvai durlabhāṃ satīm

"Is this proper of you, cows, that you do not welcome me here? Why do you not accept me, so hard to obtain, and virtuous?

Verse 14 (13.128.14)

सत्यश्च लोकवादोऽयं लोके चरति सुव्रताः । स्वयं प्राप्ते परिभवो भवतीति विनिश्चयः ॥

satyaśca lokavādo'yaṃ loke carati suvratāḥ | svayaṃ prāpte paribhavo bhavatīti viniścayaḥ

This saying goes about the world, and it is true, O you of good vows: when something comes of its own accord, it is certain to be slighted.

Verse 15 (13.128.15)

महदुग्रं तपः कृत्वा मां निषेवन्ति मानवाः । देवदानवगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगराक्षसाः ॥

mahadugraṃ tapaḥ kṛtvā māṃ niṣevanti mānavāḥ | devadānavagandharvāḥ piśācoragarākṣasāḥ

Men worship me after performing great and severe austerity, and so do gods, danavas, gandharvas, pishachas, serpents and rakshasas.

Verse 16 (13.128.16)

क्षममेतद्धि वो गावः प्रतिगृह्णीत मामिह । नावमन्या ह्यहं सौम्यास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ॥

kṣamametaddhi vo gāvaḥ pratigṛhṇīta māmiha | nāvamanyā hyahaṃ saumyāstrailokye sacarācare

It is fitting, cows, that you accept me here. I am not to be scorned, O gentle ones, in the three worlds with all that moves and does not move."

Verse 17 (13.128.17)

नावमान्यामहे देवि न त्वां परिभवामहे । अध्रुवा चलचित्तासि ततस्त्वां वर्जयामहे ॥

nāvamānyāmahe devi na tvāṃ paribhavāmahe | adhruvā calacittāsi tatastvāṃ varjayāmahe

"We do not scorn you, goddess, nor do we slight you; but you are unsteady and fickle of mind, and so we avoid you.

Verse 18 (13.128.18)

बहुना च किमुक्तेन गम्यतां यत्र वाञ्छसि । वपुष्मन्त्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयाऽनघे ॥

bahunā ca kimuktena gamyatāṃ yatra vāñchasi | vapuṣmantyo vayaṃ sarvāḥ kimasmākaṃ tvayā'naghe

What is the use of saying more? Go where you wish. We are all of lovely form; what do we need of you, O blameless one?"

Verse 19 (13.128.19)

अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि सर्वलोकेषु मानवैः । प्रत्याख्यातेति युष्माभिः प्रसादः क्रियतां मम ॥

avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi sarvalokeṣu mānavaiḥ | pratyākhyāteti yuṣmābhiḥ prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ mama

"I shall be disdained by men in all the worlds. Rejected by you, show me your favour.

Note on the text: Wikisource मानवैः where the CE reads mānadāḥ; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 20 (13.128.20)

महाभागा भवत्यो वै शरण्याः शरणागताम् । परित्रायन्तु मां नित्यं भजमानामनिन्दिताम् ॥

mahābhāgā bhavatyo vai śaraṇyāḥ śaraṇāgatām | paritrāyantu māṃ nityaṃ bhajamānāmaninditām

You noble ones are givers of refuge to those who come for refuge; protect me always, who serve you and am without fault.

Verse 21 (13.128.21)

माननामहमिच्छामि भवत्यः सततं शिवाः । अप्येकाङ्गेष्वधो वस्तुमिच्छामि च सुकुत्सिते ॥

mānanāmahamicchāmi bhavatyaḥ satataṃ śivāḥ | apyekāṅgeṣvadho vastumicchāmi ca sukutsite

I desire honour from you, O auspicious ones, always. I wish to dwell even in some one part of you, however lowly and despised.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.81.19e; line 2 is a recension variant of CE 13.81.20a (apy ekāṅge tu vo vastum …), kept.

Verse 22 (13.128.22)

न वोऽस्ति कुत्सितं किञ्चिदङ्गेष्वालक्ष्यतेऽनघाः । पुण्याः पवित्राः सुभगा अवाग्देशं प्रयच्छथ । वसेयं यत्र वो देहे तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हथ ॥

na vo'sti kutsitaṃ kiñcidaṅgeṣvālakṣyate'naghāḥ | puṇyāḥ pavitrāḥ subhagā avāgdeśaṃ prayacchatha | vaseyaṃ yatra vo dehe tanme vyākhyātumarhatha

No part of you is seen to be despicable, O blameless ones. You who are holy, pure and fortunate, grant me a lower place; tell me where in your body I may dwell."

Note on the text: Lines 1-3 correspond to CE 13.81.20c, 21a, 21c; line 2 reads अवाग्देशं where the CE has mamādeśaṃ, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 23 (13.128.23)

एवमुक्तास्तु ता गावः शुभाः करुणवत्सलाः । सम्मान्य सहिताः सर्वाः श्रियमुचुर्नराधिप ॥

evamuktāstu tā gāvaḥ śubhāḥ karuṇavatsalāḥ | sammānya sahitāḥ sarvāḥ śriyamucurnarādhipa

Addressed in this way, those auspicious cows, tender and kind, all honoured her together and said to Shri, O king,

Note on the text: Wikisource सम्मान्य where the CE reads saṃmantrya (the page's footnote records सम्मन्त्र्य as a variant); kept.

Verse 24 (13.128.24)

अवश्यं मानना कार्या तवास्माभिर्यशस्विनि । शकृन्मूत्रे निवसतां पुण्यमेतद्धि नः शुभे ॥

avaśyaṃ mānanā kāryā tavāsmābhiryaśasvini | śakṛnmūtre nivasatāṃ puṇyametaddhi naḥ śubhe

"You must surely be honoured by us, O glorious one. Let your dwelling be in our dung and urine; that is a holy thing in us, O auspicious one."

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading before this verse; the speech is the cows' reply, so it is given to them (the CE likewise prints no new label; Bhishma's label at 13.81.22 still stands there). Wikisource निवसताम् where the CE reads nivasa naḥ; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 25 (13.128.25)

दिष्ट्या प्रसादो युष्माभिः कृतो मेऽनुग्रहात्मकः । एवं भवतु भद्रं वः पूजिताऽस्मि सुखप्रदाः ॥

diṣṭyā prasādo yuṣmābhiḥ kṛto me'nugrahātmakaḥ | evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ vaḥ pūjitā'smi sukhapradāḥ

"By good fortune you have shown me this favour out of kindness. So be it; good fortune to you, givers of happiness. I am honoured."

Verse 26 (13.128.26)

एवं कृत्वा तु समयं श्रीर्गोभिः सह भारत । पश्यन्तीनां ततस्तासां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥

evaṃ kṛtvā tu samayaṃ śrīrgobhiḥ saha bhārata | paśyantīnāṃ tatastāsāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata

Having made this agreement with the cows, O Bharata, Shri vanished right there while they looked on.

Verse 27 (13.128.27)

एवं गोशकृतः पुत्र माहात्म्यं तेऽनुवर्णितम् । माहात्म्यं च गवां भूयः श्रूयतां गदतो मम ॥

evaṃ gośakṛtaḥ putra māhātmyaṃ te'nuvarṇitam | māhātmyaṃ ca gavāṃ bhūyaḥ śrūyatāṃ gadato mama

Thus, my son, I have told you the greatness of cow-dung. Now hear once more of the greatness of the cows, as I tell it.