Brahma Tells Indra Why the World of Cows Stands Above the Gods

Verse 1 (13.129.1)

ये च गाः सम्प्रयच्छन्ति हुतशिष्टाशिनश्च ये । तेषां सत्राणि यज्ञाश्च नित्यमेव युधिष्ठिर ॥

ye ca gāḥ samprayacchanti hutaśiṣṭāśinaśca ye | teṣāṃ satrāṇi yajñāśca nityameva yudhiṣṭhira

Those who give cows, and those who eat the remainder of the oblation: for them, O Yudhishthira, sacrificial sessions and sacrifices go on forever.

Verse 2 (13.129.2)

ऋते दधिघृतेनेह न यज्ञः सम्प्रवर्तते । तेन यज्ञस्य यज्ञत्वमतो मूलं च लक्ष्यते ॥

ṛte dadhighṛteneha na yajñaḥ sampravartate | tena yajñasya yajñatvamato mūlaṃ ca lakṣyate

Without curds and ghee no sacrifice goes forward. Through them a sacrifice is a sacrifice, and so they are seen to be its root.

Verse 3 (13.129.3)

दानानामपि सर्वेषां गवां दानं प्रशस्यते । गावः श्रेष्ठाः पवित्राश्च पावनं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥

dānānāmapi sarveṣāṃ gavāṃ dānaṃ praśasyate | gāvaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ pavitrāśca pāvanaṃ hyetaduttamam

Of all gifts, the gift of cows is the most praised. Cows are the best and the purest; this is the supreme means of purification.

Verse 4 (13.129.4)

पुष्ट्यर्थमेताः सेवेत शान्त्यर्थमपि चैव ह । पयो दधि घृतं चासां सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् ॥

puṣṭyarthametāḥ seveta śāntyarthamapi caiva ha | payo dadhi ghṛtaṃ cāsāṃ sarvapāpapramocanam

One should tend them for prosperity and also for peace. Their milk, curds and ghee free one from all sins.

Verse 5 (13.129.5)

गावस्तेजः परं प्रोक्तमिह लोके परत्र च । न गोभ्यः परमं किञ्चित्पवित्रं भरतर्षभ ॥

gāvastejaḥ paraṃ proktamiha loke paratra ca | na gobhyaḥ paramaṃ kiñcitpavitraṃ bharatarṣabha

Cows are called the supreme radiance, in this world and the next. There is nothing more purifying than cows, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 6 (13.129.6)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । पितामहस्य संवादमिन्द्रस्य च युधिष्ठिर ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | pitāmahasya saṃvādamindrasya ca yudhiṣṭhira

On this they recount an ancient tale: the conversation between the Grandsire and Indra, O Yudhishthira.

Verse 7 (13.129.7)

पराभूतेषु दैत्येषु शक्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । प्रजाः समुदिताः सर्वाः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः ॥

parābhūteṣu daityeṣu śakrastribhuvaneśvaraḥ | prajāḥ samuditāḥ sarvāḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇāḥ

After the daityas had been overthrown, Shakra was lord of the three worlds, and all the people were flourishing, devoted to truth and dharma.

Verse 8 (13.129.8)

अथर्षयः सगन्धर्वाः किन्नरोरगराक्षसाः । देवासुरसुपर्णाश्च प्रजानां पतयस्तथा । पर्युपासत कौन्तेय कदाचिद्वै पितामहम् ॥

atharṣayaḥ sagandharvāḥ kinnaroragarākṣasāḥ | devāsurasuparṇāśca prajānāṃ patayastathā | paryupāsata kaunteya kadācidvai pitāmaham

Then, O son of Kunti, on one occasion the seers, with gandharvas, kinnaras, serpents and rakshasas, the gods, asuras and suparnas, and the lords of creatures as well, attended upon the Grandsire.

Verse 9 (13.129.9)

नारदः पर्वतश्चैव विश्वावसुहहाहुहूः । दिव्यतानेषु गायन्तः पर्युपासत तं प्रभुम् ॥

nāradaḥ parvataścaiva viśvāvasuhahāhuhūḥ | divyatāneṣu gāyantaḥ paryupāsata taṃ prabhum

Narada, Parvata, Vishvavasu, Haha and Huhu, singing divine melodies, waited upon that lord.

Verse 10 (13.129.10)

तत्र दिव्यानि पुष्पाणि प्रावहत्पवनस्तदा । आजह्रुर्ऋतवश्चापि सुगन्धीनि पृथक्पृथक् ॥

tatra divyāni puṣpāṇi prāvahatpavanastadā | ājahrurṛtavaścāpi sugandhīni pṛthakpṛthak

There the wind carried divine flowers, and the seasons also brought fragrant things, each its own.

Verse 11 (13.129.11)

तस्मिन्देवसमावाये सर्वभूतसमागमे । दिव्यवादित्रसंघुष्टे दिव्यस्त्रीचारणावृते । इन्द्रः पप्रच्छ देवेशमभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च ॥

tasmindevasamāvāye sarvabhūtasamāgame | divyavāditrasaṃghuṣṭe divyastrīcāraṇāvṛte | indraḥ papraccha deveśamabhivādya praṇamya ca

In that gathering of the gods, that meeting of all beings, resounding with divine instruments and thronged with celestial women and bards, Indra bowed to the lord of gods, saluted him, and asked:

Verse 12 (13.129.12)

देवानां भगवन्कस्माल्लोकेशानां पितामह । उपरिष्ठाद्गवां लोक एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

devānāṃ bhagavankasmāllokeśānāṃ pitāmaha | upariṣṭhādgavāṃ loka etadicchāmi veditum

"Why, O Lord, O Grandsire, is the world of the cows above the gods, the rulers of the worlds? This I wish to know.

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading before this verse; Indra's question is given to Indra (verse 11 closes with the narration इन्द्रः पप्रच्छ).

Verse 13 (13.129.13)

किं तपो ब्रह्मचर्यं वा गोभिः कृतमिहेश्वर । देवानामुपरिष्टाद्यद्वसन्त्यरजसः सुखम् ॥

kiṃ tapo brahmacaryaṃ vā gobhiḥ kṛtamiheśvara | devānāmupariṣṭādyadvasantyarajasaḥ sukham

What austerity or chastity did the cows practise here, O Lord, that they dwell happily above the gods, free of passion's dust?"

Note on the text: Speaker as in verse 12 (no heading printed).

Verse 14 (13.129.14)

ततः प्रोवाच ब्रह्मा तं शक्रं बलनिषूदनम् । अवज्ञातास्त्वया नित्यं गावो बलनिषूदन ॥

tataḥ provāca brahmā taṃ śakraṃ balaniṣūdanam | avajñātāstvayā nityaṃ gāvo balaniṣūdana

Then Brahma spoke to Shakra, slayer of Bala: "You have always held the cows in contempt, slayer of Bala.

Note on the text: The first line is Bhishma's narration; the second line begins Brahma's speech. Kept as one verse under Bhishma, the narrator (no heading printed).

Verse 15 (13.129.15)

तेन त्वमासां माहात्म्यं न वेत्सि शृणु यत्प्रभो । गवां प्रभावं परमं माहात्म्यं च सुरर्षभ ॥

tena tvamāsāṃ māhātmyaṃ na vetsi śṛṇu yatprabho | gavāṃ prabhāvaṃ paramaṃ māhātmyaṃ ca surarṣabha

For that reason you do not know their greatness. Listen to it, lord: the supreme power and greatness of the cows, O best of gods.

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading for the verses of Brahma's speech (verses 15-31 in this chunk, from his answer to Indra until the heading of Surabhi); they are given to Brahma, who speaks them in the first person ("मया", "अब्रवम्"). Wikisource reads वेत्सि … यत्प्रभो where the CE has vettha … tat prabho; kept.

Verse 16 (13.129.16)

यज्ञाङ्गं कथिता गावो यज्ञ एव च वासव । एताभिश्च विना विज्ञो न वर्तेत कथञ्चन ॥

yajñāṅgaṃ kathitā gāvo yajña eva ca vāsava | etābhiśca vinā vijño na varteta kathañcana

Cows are called a limb of sacrifice, and sacrifice itself, Vasava. Without them the wise man could not carry on at all.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads विना विज्ञो न वर्तेत where the CE has ṛte yajño na pravartet (similarity 0.84); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 17 (13.129.17)

धारयन्ति प्रजाश्चैताः पयसा हविषा तथा । एतासां तनयाश्चापि कृषियोगमुपासते ॥

dhārayanti prajāścaitāḥ payasā haviṣā tathā | etāsāṃ tanayāścāpi kṛṣiyogamupāsate

They sustain the creatures with milk and with oblations; and their offspring take part in the work of tillage.

Verse 18 (13.129.18)

जनयन्ति च धान्यानि बीजानि विविधानि च । ततो यज्ञाः प्रवर्तन्ते हव्यं कव्यं च सर्वशः ॥

janayanti ca dhānyāni bījāni vividhāni ca | tato yajñāḥ pravartante havyaṃ kavyaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ

They bring forth grain and seeds of many kinds. From these sacrifices proceed, and offerings to gods and ancestors everywhere.

Verse 19 (13.129.19)

पयो दधि घृतं चैव पुण्याश्चैताः सुराधिप । वहन्ति विविधान्भोगान्क्षुत्तृष्णापरिपीडिताः ॥

payo dadhi ghṛtaṃ caiva puṇyāścaitāḥ surādhipa | vahanti vividhānbhogānkṣuttṛṣṇāparipīḍitāḥ

Milk, curds and ghee, and these cows themselves, are holy, O lord of the gods; though oppressed by hunger and thirst, they bring many kinds of enjoyment.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads विविधान्भोगान् where the CE has vividhān bhārān; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 20 (13.129.20)

मुनींश्च धारयन्तीह प्रजाश्चैवापि कर्मणा । वासवाऽकूटवाहिन्यः कर्मणा सुकृतेन च ॥

munīṃśca dhārayantīha prajāścaivāpi karmaṇā | vāsavā'kūṭavāhinyaḥ karmaṇā sukṛtena ca

They support the sages here and the people too, by their work, O Vasava, bearing their loads without deceit through their deeds and good works.

Verse 21 (13.129.21)

उपरिष्टात्ततोऽस्माकं वसन्त्येताः सदैव हि । एतत्ते कारणं शक्र निवासकृतमद्य वै । गावो देवोपरिष्टाद्धि समाख्याताः शतक्रतो ॥

upariṣṭāttato'smākaṃ vasantyetāḥ sadaiva hi | etatte kāraṇaṃ śakra nivāsakṛtamadya vai | gāvo devopariṣṭāddhi samākhyātāḥ śatakrato

So they always dwell above us. This, Shakra, is the reason: their dwelling has been made so today, and the cows have been declared to stand above the gods, O Shatakratu.

Note on the text: Corrected निवासकृतमध्य → निवासकृतमद्य (misprint in Wikisource; ध्य for द्य; the critical edition reads nivāsakṛtam adya). Line 1 = CE 13.82.20e; lines 2-3 = CE 13.82.21a,c (Wikisource गावो for CE gavāṃ, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 22 (13.129.22)

एता हि वरदत्ताश्च वरदाश्चापि वासव । सुरभ्यः पुण्यकर्मिण्यः पावनाः शुभलक्षणाः ॥

etā hi varadattāśca varadāścāpi vāsava | surabhyaḥ puṇyakarmiṇyaḥ pāvanāḥ śubhalakṣaṇāḥ

These cows are givers of boons and were themselves granted boons, Vasava; they are Surabhis, doers of holy deeds, purifying and bearing auspicious marks.

Note on the text: Wikisource सुरभ्यः where the CE reads saurabhyaḥ; kept.

Verse 23 (13.129.23)

यदर्थं गां गताश्चैव सुरभ्यः सुरसत्तम । तच्च मे शृणु कार्स्न्येन वदतो बलसूदन ॥

yadarthaṃ gāṃ gatāścaiva surabhyaḥ surasattama | tacca me śṛṇu kārsnyena vadato balasūdana

Why the Surabhis came to the earth, O best of gods, slayer of Bala, hear that from me in full as I tell it.

Verse 24 (13.129.24)

पुरा देवयुगे तात दैत्येन्द्रेषु महात्मसु । त्रीँल्लोकाननुशासत्सु विष्णौ गर्भत्वमागते ॥

purā devayuge tāta daityendreṣu mahātmasu | trīm̐llokānanuśāsatsu viṣṇau garbhatvamāgate

Long ago, dear child, in the age of the gods, when the great daitya lords were ruling the three worlds and Vishnu had entered the womb,

Verse 25 (13.129.25)

अदित्यां तप्यमानायां तपो घोरं सुदुश्चरम् । पुत्रार्थममरश्रेष्ठ पादेनैकेन नित्यदा ॥

adityāṃ tapyamānāyāṃ tapo ghoraṃ suduścaram | putrārthamamaraśreṣṭha pādenaikena nityadā

Aditi was performing a fearsome and very hard austerity for the sake of sons, O best of the immortals, always standing on one foot.

Verse 26 (13.129.26)

तां तु दृष्ट्वा महादेवीं तप्यमानां महत्तपः । दक्षस्य दुहिता देवी सुरभिर्नाम नामतः ॥

tāṃ tu dṛṣṭvā mahādevīṃ tapyamānāṃ mahattapaḥ | dakṣasya duhitā devī surabhirnāma nāmataḥ

Seeing that great goddess performing that great austerity, Daksha's daughter, the goddess named Surabhi,

Verse 27 (13.129.27)

अतप्यत तपो घोरं हृष्टा धर्मपरायणा । कैलासशिखरे रम्ये देवगन्धर्वसेविते ॥

atapyata tapo ghoraṃ hṛṣṭā dharmaparāyaṇā | kailāsaśikhare ramye devagandharvasevite

joyfully began a fierce austerity too, devoted to dharma, on the lovely peak of Kailasa, frequented by gods and gandharvas.

Verse 28 (13.129.28)

व्यतिष्ठदेकपादेन परमं योगमास्थिता । दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च ॥

vyatiṣṭhadekapādena paramaṃ yogamāsthitā | daśavarṣasahasrāṇi daśavarṣaśatāni ca

She stood on one foot, set in supreme yoga, for ten thousand years and ten hundred years.

Verse 29 (13.129.29)

सन्तप्तास्तपसा तस्या देवाः सर्षिमहोरगाः । तत्र गत्वा मया सार्धं पर्युपासत तां शुभां ॥

santaptāstapasā tasyā devāḥ sarṣimahoragāḥ | tatra gatvā mayā sārdhaṃ paryupāsata tāṃ śubhāṃ

Scorched by her austerity, the gods, with the seers and the great serpents, went there with me and attended on that auspicious lady.

Verse 30 (13.129.30)

अथाहमब्रवं तत्र देवीं तां तपसाऽन्विताम् । किमर्थं तप्यसे देवि तपो घोरमनिन्दिते ॥

athāhamabravaṃ tatra devīṃ tāṃ tapasā'nvitām | kimarthaṃ tapyase devi tapo ghoramanindite

Then I spoke to that goddess, rich in austerity: "Why, goddess, do you practise this fierce austerity, O blameless one?

Verse 31 (13.129.31)

प्रीतस्तेऽहं महाभागे तपसाऽनेन शोभने । वरयस्व वरं देवि दातास्मीति पुरन्दर ॥

prītaste'haṃ mahābhāge tapasā'nena śobhane | varayasva varaṃ devi dātāsmīti purandara

I am pleased with you, O fortunate one, by this austerity, O lovely lady. Choose a boon, goddess; I will give it, O Purandara."

Note on the text: Corrected महाभागो → महाभागे (misprint in Wikisource; the vocative of the feminine महाभागा is महाभागे; the critical edition reads mahābhāge).

Verse 32 (13.129.32)

वरेण भगवन्मह्यं कृतं लोकपितामह । एष एव वरो मेऽद्य यत्प्रीतोऽसि ममानघ ॥

vareṇa bhagavanmahyaṃ kṛtaṃ lokapitāmaha | eṣa eva varo me'dya yatprīto'si mamānagha

"The boon is already granted me, Lord, Grandsire of the world. This very thing is my boon today, that you are pleased with me, O sinless one."

Note on the text: Corrected यत्प्रीतोसि → यत्प्रीतोऽसि (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha is missing from प्रीतोऽसि; the critical edition reads prīto 'si).

Verse 33 (13.129.33)

तामेव ब्रुवतीं देवीं सुरभिं त्रिदशेश्वर । प्रत्यब्रवं यद्देवेन्द्र तन्निबोध शचीपते ॥

tāmeva bruvatīṃ devīṃ surabhiṃ tridaśeśvara | pratyabravaṃ yaddevendra tannibodha śacīpate

To her, the goddess Surabhi, as she spoke so, I replied, O lord of the thirty gods; hear what I said, O Indra, husband of Shachi.

Verse 34 (13.129.34)

अलोभकाम्यया देवि तपसा शुचिना च ते । प्रसन्नोऽहं वरं तस्मादमरत्वं ददामि ते ॥

alobhakāmyayā devi tapasā śucinā ca te | prasanno'haṃ varaṃ tasmādamaratvaṃ dadāmi te

"Because you have no greed or desire, goddess, and because of your pure austerity, I am pleased; therefore I give you immortality.

Note on the text: Corrected दादामि → ददामि (misprint in Wikisource; दा for द; the evident word is ददामि (the critical edition reads dadāni)). Wikisource तपसा शुचिना च ते where the CE reads tapasā ca śubhena te; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 35 (13.129.35)

त्रयाणामपि लोकानामुपरिष्टान्निवत्स्यसि । मत्प्रसादाच्च विख्यातो गोलोकः सम्भविष्यति ॥

trayāṇāmapi lokānāmupariṣṭānnivatsyasi | matprasādācca vikhyāto golokaḥ sambhaviṣyati

You will dwell above all three worlds, and by my grace the world known as Goloka will come into being.

Verse 36 (13.129.36)

मानुषेषु च कुर्वाणाः प्रजाः कर्म शुभास्तव । निवत्स्यन्ति महाभागे सर्वा दुहितरश्च ते ॥

mānuṣeṣu ca kurvāṇāḥ prajāḥ karma śubhāstava | nivatsyanti mahābhāge sarvā duhitaraśca te

Among men, your auspicious ones will dwell, doing their work for the people, O fortunate one; and so will all your daughters.

Note on the text: Corrected महाभागो → महाभागे (misprint in Wikisource; the vocative of the feminine महाभागा is महाभागे; the critical edition reads mahābhāge). Wikisource शुभास्तव where the CE reads sutās tava; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 37 (13.129.37)

मनसा चिन्तिता भोगास्त्वया वै दिव्यमानुषाः । यच्च स्वर्गसुखं देवि तत्ते सम्पत्स्यते शुभे ॥

manasā cintitā bhogāstvayā vai divyamānuṣāḥ | yacca svargasukhaṃ devi tatte sampatsyate śubhe

Whatever enjoyments you conceive in your mind, divine or human, and whatever heavenly happiness there is, goddess, all that will be yours, O auspicious one.

Verse 38 (13.129.38)

तस्या लोकाः सहस्राक्ष सर्वकामसमन्विताः । न तत्र क्रमते मृत्युर्न जरा न च पावकः । न दैन्यं नाशुभं किञ्चिद्विद्यते तत्र वासव ॥

tasyā lokāḥ sahasrākṣa sarvakāmasamanvitāḥ | na tatra kramate mṛtyurna jarā na ca pāvakaḥ | na dainyaṃ nāśubhaṃ kiñcidvidyate tatra vāsava

Her worlds, O thousand-eyed, are endowed with every desire. Neither death nor old age nor fire has power there; nor misery nor anything inauspicious exists there, Vasava.

Verse 39 (13.129.39)

तत्र दिव्यान्यरण्यानि दिव्यानि भवनानि च । विमानानि सुयुक्तानि कामगानि च वासव ॥

tatra divyānyaraṇyāni divyāni bhavanāni ca | vimānāni suyuktāni kāmagāni ca vāsava

There are divine forests and divine mansions, and well-appointed celestial cars that go wherever one wishes, Vasava.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.82.39a,c (Wikisource सुयुक्तानि for CE ca yuktāni, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 40 (13.129.40)

ब्रह्मचर्येण तपसा सत्येन च दमेन च । दानैश्च विविधैः पुण्यैस्तथा तीर्थानुसेवनात् ॥

brahmacaryeṇa tapasā satyena ca damena ca | dānaiśca vividhaiḥ puṇyaistathā tīrthānusevanāt

By chastity, austerity, truth and self-control, by gifts of many kinds that bring merit, and by resorting to sacred fords,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE's star passage 13,082.039d*0384_01 (brahmacaryeṇa tapasā satyena ca damena ca), printed after 13.82.39d; line 2 corresponds to CE 13.82.40a (Wikisource दानैश्च for CE vrataiś ca, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 41 (13.129.41)

तपसा महता चैव सुकृतेन च कर्मणा । शक्यः समासादयितुं गोलोकः पुष्करेक्षण ॥

tapasā mahatā caiva sukṛtena ca karmaṇā | śakyaḥ samāsādayituṃ golokaḥ puṣkarekṣaṇa

by great austerity and by good deeds, Goloka can be reached, O lotus-eyed one.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.82.40c,e.

Verse 42 (13.129.42)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया शक्रानुपृच्छते । न ते परिभवः कार्यो गवामसुरसूदन ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ mayā śakrānupṛcchate | na te paribhavaḥ kāryo gavāmasurasūdana

All this I have told you, Shakra, as you asked. You must not show contempt for the cows, slayer of asuras."

Verse 43 (13.129.43)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षः पूजयामास नित्यदा । गाश्चक्रे बहुमानं च तासु नित्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥

etacchrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ pūjayāmāsa nityadā | gāścakre bahumānaṃ ca tāsu nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira

Hearing this, the thousand-eyed god always honoured the cows and held them in great esteem, O Yudhishthira.

Verse 44 (13.129.44)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं पावनं च महाद्युते । पवित्रं परमं चापि गवां माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ pāvanaṃ ca mahādyute | pavitraṃ paramaṃ cāpi gavāṃ māhātmyamuttamam

All this I have told you, O man of great splendour: the purifying, supreme and holy greatness of the cows, the best,

Verse 45 (13.129.45)

कीर्तितं पुरुषव्याघ्र सर्वपापविमोचनम् । य इदं कथयेन्नित्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समाहितः ॥

kīrtitaṃ puruṣavyāghra sarvapāpavimocanam | ya idaṃ kathayennityaṃ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samāhitaḥ

which has been recited, O tiger among men, and which destroys all sins. Whoever with a collected mind tells this regularly to brahmins

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.82.43e; line 2 = CE 13.82.44a.

Verse 46 (13.129.46)

हव्यकव्येषु यज्ञेषु पितृकार्येषु चैव ह । सार्वकामिकमक्षय्यं पितॄंस्तस्योपतिष्ठते ॥

havyakavyeṣu yajñeṣu pitṛkāryeṣu caiva ha | sārvakāmikamakṣayyaṃ pitṝṃstasyopatiṣṭhate

at offerings to gods and ancestors, at sacrifices and rites for the ancestors: it reaches his ancestors as an unfailing offering that grants every wish.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.82.44c,e.

Verse 47 (13.129.47)

गोषु भक्तश्च लभते यद्यदिच्छति मानवः । स्त्रियोपि भक्ता या गोषु ताश्च काममवाप्नुयुः ॥

goṣu bhaktaśca labhate yadyadicchati mānavaḥ | striyopi bhaktā yā goṣu tāśca kāmamavāpnuyuḥ

A man devoted to cows gets whatever he desires; and women too who are devoted to cows obtain their wishes.

Verse 48 (13.129.48)

पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रं कन्यार्थी तामवाप्नुयात् । धनार्थी लभते वित्तं धर्मार्थी धर्ममाप्नुयात् ॥

putrārthī labhate putraṃ kanyārthī tāmavāpnuyāt | dhanārthī labhate vittaṃ dharmārthī dharmamāpnuyāt

One who wants a son gets a son; one who wants a daughter obtains one. One who wants wealth gets wealth; one who wants dharma attains dharma.

Note on the text: Corrected पुत्रार्थीं → पुत्रार्थी (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara on the nominative; the critical edition reads putrārthī). Wikisource कन्यार्थी तामवाप्नुयात् where the CE reads kanyā patim avāpnuyāt (the page's own footnote records कन्या पतिमवाप्नुयात् as a variant); kept.

Verse 49 (13.129.49)

विद्यार्थी चाप्नुयाद्विद्यां सुखार्थी प्राप्नुयात्सुखम् । न किञ्चिद्दुर्लभं चैव गवां भक्तस्य भारत ॥

vidyārthī cāpnuyādvidyāṃ sukhārthī prāpnuyātsukham | na kiñciddurlabhaṃ caiva gavāṃ bhaktasya bhārata

One who seeks learning gains learning; one who seeks happiness gains happiness. Nothing is hard to obtain for one who is devoted to cows, O Bharata.