13.071
गोप्रदानिकम्
Relating to the giving of cows.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
उक्तं वै गोप्रदानं ते नाचिकेतमृषिं प्रति। माहात्म्यमपि चैवोक्तमुद्देशेन गवां प्रभो ॥१३-७१-१॥
The instructions about the gifting of cows were indeed explained to you, regarding the sage Naciketa. Also, O master, the greatness of cows was stated briefly. (13-71-1)
नृगेण च यथा दुःखमनुभूतं महात्मना। एकापराधादज्ञानात्पितामह महामते ॥१३-७१-२॥
O grandsire, O greatly wise one, as suffering was experienced by the great-souled Nṛga from a single transgression due to ignorance. (13-71-2)
द्वारवत्यां यथा चासौ निविशन्त्यां समुद्धृतः। मोक्षहेतुरभूत्कृष्णस्तदप्यवधृतं मया ॥१३-७१-३॥
When he was being rescued in Dvāravatī, it was Kṛṣṇa who became the cause of liberation; I also considered that. (13-71-3)
किं त्वस्ति मम संदेहो गवां लोकं प्रति प्रभो। तत्त्वतः श्रोतुमिच्छामि गोदा यत्र विशन्त्युत ॥१३-७१-४॥
But, O lord, I have a doubt regarding the world of cows; I wish to hear truly where the givers of cows actually go. (13-71-4)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। यथापृच्छत्पद्मयोनिमेतदेव शतक्रतुः ॥१३-७१-५॥
Here too, they quote this ancient legend, as Śatakratu (Indra) once asked Padmayoni (Brahmā) this very matter. (13-71-5)
शक्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
स्वर्लोकवासिनां लक्ष्मीमभिभूय स्वया त्विषा। गोलोकवासिनः पश्ये व्रजतः संशयोऽत्र मे ॥१३-७१-६॥
I see, as I depart, that the inhabitants of Goloka have surpassed, by their own splendor, the prosperity of those who dwell in the heavenly world; thus, a doubt arises here in me. (13-71-6)
कीदृशा भगवँल्लोका गवां तद्ब्रूहि मेऽनघ। यानावसन्ति दातार एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥१३-७१-७॥
O sinless one, tell me what kinds of worlds exist for those who give cows—it is these in which the donors reside that I wish to know. (13-71-7)
कीदृशाः किम्फलाः कः स्वित्परमस्तत्र वै गुणः। कथं च पुरुषास्तत्र गच्छन्ति विगतज्वराः ॥१३-७१-८॥
Of what kind are (they)? What are the fruits? What indeed is the highest quality there? How do men, free from affliction, go there? (13-71-8)
कियत्कालं प्रदानस्य दाता च फलमश्नुते। कथं बहुविधं दानं स्यादल्पमपि वा कथम् ॥१३-७१-९॥
For how long does a giver enjoy the fruit of a gift? How can a gift become of many kinds, or even a small one—how? (13-71-9)
बह्वीनां कीदृशं दानमल्पानां वापि कीदृशम्। अदत्त्वा गोप्रदाः सन्ति केन वा तच्च शंस मे ॥१३-७१-१०॥
Of many people, what kind of gift is there? And of a few, what kind? How can there be givers of cows without actually giving? By what means does this happen? Tell me that. (13-71-10)
कथं च बहुदाता स्यादल्पदात्रा समः प्रभो। अल्पप्रदाता बहुदः कथं च स्यादिहेश्वर ॥१३-७१-११॥
O master, how can one who gives much ever be equal to one who gives little? O Lord, in this world, how can the giver of little become like the giver of much? (13-71-11)
कीदृशी दक्षिणा चैव गोप्रदाने विशिष्यते। एतत्तथ्येन भगवन्मम शंसितुमर्हसि ॥१३-७१-१२॥
O revered one, you ought to tell me truthfully what kind of gift excels in the giving of a cow. (13-71-12)
