13.073
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
जानन्यो गामपहरेद्विक्रीयाद्वार्थकारणात्। एतद्विज्ञातुमिच्छामि का नु तस्य गतिर्भवेत् ॥१३-७३-१॥
I wish to know what indeed would be the course (fate) of one who, knowing, takes away or sells a cow for the sake of wealth. (13-73-1)
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahmā said.
भक्षार्थं विक्रयार्थं वा येऽपहारं हि कुर्वते। दानार्थं वा ब्राह्मणाय तत्रेदं श्रूयतां फलम् ॥१३-७३-२॥
Whether one commits theft for eating, selling, charity, or to give to a Brāhmaṇa — listen here to the result of such an act. (13-73-2)
विक्रयार्थं हि यो हिंस्याद्भक्षयेद्वा निरङ्कुशः। घातयानं हि पुरुषं येऽनुमन्येयुरर्थिनः ॥१३-७३-३॥
Indeed, one who, unrestrained, kills or eats (an animal) for the sake of sale, and those who desire profit and approve of a person subject to being killed, (are blameworthy). (13-73-3)
घातकः खादको वापि तथा यश्चानुमन्यते। यावन्ति तस्या लोमानि तावद्वर्षाणि मज्जति ॥१३-७३-४॥
The killer, the eater, and also the one who permits—each sinks for as many years as the number of her hairs. (13-73-4)
ये दोषा यादृशाश्चैव द्विजयज्ञोपघातके। विक्रये चापहारे च ते दोषा वै स्मृताः प्रभो ॥१३-७३-५॥
O lord, the faults of such kind as found in injury to the sacrifice of the twice-born, as well as in sale and theft, are indeed regarded as those (same) faults. (13-73-5)
अपहृत्य तु यो गां वै ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छति। यावद्दाने फलं तस्यास्तावन्निरयमृच्छति ॥१३-७३-६॥
But whoever, having stolen a cow, gives it to a Brāhmaṇa, for as long as he enjoys the fruit of that gift, so long he goes to hell. (13-73-6)
सुवर्णं दक्षिणामाहुर्गोप्रदाने महाद्युते। सुवर्णं परमं ह्युक्तं दक्षिणार्थमसंशयम् ॥१३-७३-७॥
O highly radiant one, in the giving of a cow, they say gold is the (proper) gift. Indeed, gold is said to be the supreme offering for this purpose, without doubt. (13-73-7)
गोप्रदानं तारयते सप्त पूर्वांस्तथा परान्। सुवर्णं दक्षिणां दत्त्वा तावद्द्विगुणमुच्यते ॥१३-७३-८॥
The gift of a cow enables seven ancestors and seven descendants to cross over, and it is said that by giving gold as a Dakṣiṇā, the benefit is double that amount. (13-73-8)
सुवर्णं परमं दानं सुवर्णं दक्षिणा परा। सुवर्णं पावनं शक्र पावनानां परं स्मृतम् ॥१३-७३-९॥
Gold is considered the highest gift and offering. O Indra, it is the supreme purifier among all purifiers. (13-73-9)
कुलानां पावनं प्राहुर्जातरूपं शतक्रतो। एषा मे दक्षिणा प्रोक्ता समासेन महाद्युते ॥१३-७३-१०॥
O Śatakratu, they declare gold to be the purifier of families. This, O greatly radiant one, is said by me in brief as the sacrificial fee. (13-73-10)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
एतत्पितामहेनोक्तमिन्द्राय भरतर्षभ। इन्द्रो दशरथायाह रामायाह पिता तथा ॥१३-७३-११॥
O best of the Bharatas, this was spoken by the grandfather to Indra. Indra spoke to Daśaratha, and likewise the father to Rāma. (13-73-11)
राघवोऽपि प्रियभ्रात्रे लक्ष्मणाय यशस्विने। ऋषिभ्यो लक्ष्मणेनोक्तमरण्ये वसता विभो ॥१३-७३-१२॥
Rāghava also spoke to his dear, illustrious brother Lakṣmaṇa what Lakṣmaṇa had said to the sages while dwelling in the forest, O lord. (13-73-12)
पारम्पर्यागतं चेदमृषयः संशितव्रताः। दुर्धरं धारयामासू राजानश्चैव धार्मिकाः ॥ उपाध्यायेन गदितं मम चेदं युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-७३-१३॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, this has been handed down by tradition—sages devoted to austere vows and righteous kings have upheld these difficult teachings; this too was explained to me by my preceptor. (13-73-13)
य इदं ब्राह्मणो नित्यं वदेद्ब्राह्मणसंसदि। यज्ञेषु गोप्रदानेषु द्वयोरपि समागमे ॥१३-७३-१४॥
A Brāhmaṇa should always recite this in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas, during sacrifices, in the giving of cows, and whenever both come together. (13-73-14)
तस्य लोकाः किलाक्षय्या दैवतैः सह नित्यदा। इति ब्रह्मा स भगवानुवाच परमेश्वरः ॥१३-७३-१५॥
Brahmā, the venerable Supreme Lord, said: "Indeed, his worlds are always imperishable together with the deities." (13-73-15)
