13.073
indra uvāca॥
Indra said.
jānanyo gām apahared vikrīyād vā arthakāraṇāt. etad vijñātum icchāmi kā nu tasya gatir bhavet ॥13-73-1॥
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)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
bhakṣārthaṃ vikrayārthaṃ vā ye'phāraṃ hi kurvate। dānārthaṃ vā brāhmaṇāya tatredaṃ śrūyatāṃ phalam ॥13-73-2॥
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)
vikrayārthaṃ hi yo hiṃsyādbhaksayedvā niraṅkuśaḥ। ghātayānaṃ hi puruṣaṃ ye'numanyeyurarthinaḥ ॥13-73-3॥
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)
ghātakaḥ khādako vāpi tathā yaścānumanyate। yāvanti tasyā lomāni tāvadvārṣāṇi majjati ॥13-73-4॥
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)
ye doṣā yādṛśāścaiva dvijayajñopaghātake। vikraye cāpahāre ca te doṣā vai smṛtāḥ prabho ॥13-73-5॥
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)
apahṛtya tu yo gāṃ vai brāhmaṇāya prayacchati। yāvad-dāne phalaṃ tasyās-tāvannirayam ṛcchati ॥13-73-6॥
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)
suvarṇaṃ dakṣiṇām āhur gopradāne mahādyute। suvarṇaṃ paramaṃ hy uktaṃ dakṣiṇārtham asaṃśayam ॥13-73-7॥
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)
gopradānaṁ tārayate sapta pūrvāṁs tathā parān। suvarṇaṁ dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā tāvad-dviguṇam ucyate ॥13-73-8॥
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)
suvarṇam paramaṃ dānaṃ suvarṇam dakṣiṇā parā। suvarṇam pāvanaṃ śakra pāvanānāṃ paraṃ smṛtam ॥13-73-9॥
Gold is considered the highest gift and offering. O Indra, it is the supreme purifier among all purifiers. (13-73-9)
kulānāṃ pāvanaṃ prāhur jātarūpaṃ śatakrato। eṣā me dakṣiṇā proktā samāsena mahādyute ॥13-73-10॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said;
etat pitāmahenoktam indrāya bharatarṣabha। indro daśarathāyāha rāmayāha pitā tathā ॥13-73-11॥
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)
rāghavo'pi priyabhrātre lakṣmaṇāya yaśasvine। ṛṣibhyo lakṣmaṇenoktamaraṇye vasatā vibho ॥13-73-12॥
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)
pāramparyāgataṃ cedaṃ ṛṣayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ। durdharaṃ dhārayāmāsu rājānaścaiva dhārmikāḥ॥ upādhyāyena gaditaṃ mama cedaṃ yudhiṣṭhira॥13-73-13॥
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)
ya idaṃ brāhmaṇo nityaṃ vaded brāhmaṇasaṃsadi। yajñeṣu gopradāneṣu dvayor api samāgame ॥13-73-14॥
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)
tasya lokāḥ kilākṣayyā daivataiḥ saha nityadā. iti brahmā sa bhagavān uvāca parameśvaraḥ ॥13-73-15॥
Brahmā, the venerable Supreme Lord, said: "Indeed, his worlds are always imperishable together with the deities." (13-73-15)
