13.076
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा भूयः शान्तनवं नृप। गोदाने विस्तरं धीमान्पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः ॥१३-७६-१॥
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, endowed with humility, again asked the son of Śantanu, O king, intelligently and in detail concerning the giving of cows. (13-76-1)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
गोप्रदाने गुणान्सम्यक्पुनः प्रब्रूहि भारत। न हि तृप्याम्यहं वीर शृण्वानोऽमृतमीदृशम् ॥१३-७६-२॥
O Bhārata, tell again, properly, the qualities in the giving of cows. O hero, I am not satisfied with hearing such nectar. (13-76-2)
इत्युक्तो धर्मराजेन तदा शान्तनवो नृप। सम्यगाह गुणांस्तस्मै गोप्रदानस्य केवलान् ॥१३-७६-३॥
When thus addressed by Dharmarāja, then the king, the son of Śāntanu, properly explained to him only the qualities of giving a cow. (13-76-3)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
वत्सलां गुणसम्पन्नां तरुणीं वस्त्रसंवृताम्। दत्त्वेदृशीं गां विप्राय सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥१३-७६-४॥
Whoever gives an affectionate, virtuous, young cow, covered with cloth, to a Brāhmaṇa is freed from all sins. (13-76-4)
असुर्या नाम ते लोका गां दत्त्वा तत्र गच्छति। पीतोदकां जग्धतृणां नष्टदुग्धां निरिन्द्रियाम् ॥१३-७६-५॥
Those worlds called 'not-luminous', he attains there, having given a cow that has drunk water, eaten grass, lost its milk, and is devoid of strength. (13-76-5)
जरोग्रामुपयुक्तार्थां जीर्णां कूपमिवाजलम्। दत्त्वा तमः प्रविशति द्विजं क्लेशेन योजयेत् ॥१३-७६-६॥
If one gives an old village, worn out and no longer useful, like a well without water, to a Brāhmaṇa, he enters darkness; such a gift brings hardship to the Brāhmaṇa. (13-76-6)
दुष्टा रुष्टा व्याधिता दुर्बला वा; न दातव्या याश्च मूल्यैरदत्तैः। क्लेशैर्विप्रं योऽफलैः संयुनक्ति; तस्यावीर्याश्चाफलाश्चैव लोकाः ॥१३-७६-७॥
One should not give women who are corrupt, angry, diseased, or weak, nor those acquired for unpaid prices. Whoever associates a brahmin with fruitless hardships—his worlds become powerless and fruitless indeed. (13-76-7)
बलान्विताः शीलवयोपपन्नाः; सर्वाः प्रशंसन्ति सुगन्धवत्यः। यथा हि गङ्गा सरितां वरिष्ठा; तथार्जुनीनां कपिला वरिष्ठा ॥१३-७६-८॥
Endowed with strength, good character, and age, all the fragrant ones are praised. Just as Gaṅgā is the foremost among rivers, in the same way Kapilā is the foremost among the Arjunī trees. (13-76-8)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कस्मात्समाने बहुलाप्रदाने; सद्भिः प्रशस्तं कपिलाप्रदानम्। विशेषमिच्छामि महानुभाव; श्रोतुं समर्थो हि भवान्प्रवक्तुम् ॥१३-७६-९॥
Why, when equal abundant gifts are given, is the offering of a brown cow especially praised by the good? O great one, I wish to hear the distinction; for you are indeed capable of explaining it. (13-76-9)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
वृद्धानां ब्रुवतां तात श्रुतं मे यत्प्रभाषसे। वक्ष्यामि तदशेषेण रोहिण्यो निर्मिता यथा ॥१३-७६-१०॥
O dear one, what you have spoken, which I learned from elders and those who speak, I will now explain in full—how the Rohiṇī cows were created. (13-76-10)
प्रजाः सृजेति व्यादिष्टः पूर्वं दक्षः स्वयम्भुवा। असृजद्वृत्तिमेवाग्रे प्रजानां हितकाम्यया ॥१३-७६-११॥
Formerly, Dakṣa, having been instructed by Svayambhū to 'create offspring', at first established only the way of life for the offspring, desiring their welfare. (13-76-11)
यथा ह्यमृतमाश्रित्य वर्तयन्ति दिवौकसः। तथा वृत्तिं समाश्रित्य वर्तयन्ति प्रजा विभो ॥१३-७६-१२॥
O mighty one, just as the dwellers of heaven live by resorting to nectar, so too do creatures live by depending on livelihood. (13-76-12)
अचरेभ्यश्च भूतेभ्यश्चराः श्रेष्ठास्ततो नराः। ब्राह्मणाश्च ततः श्रेष्ठास्तेषु यज्ञाः प्रतिष्ठिताः ॥१३-७६-१३॥
Among beings, the moving are superior to the non-moving; among the moving, humans are superior; among humans, Brāhmaṇas are superior; and among them, sacrifices are established. (13-76-13)
यज्ञैराप्यायते सोमः स च गोषु प्रतिष्ठितः। सर्वे देवाः प्रमोदन्ते पूर्ववृत्तास्ततः प्रजाः ॥१३-७६-१४॥
Through sacrifices, Soma is nourished, and he is established in cows. All the gods rejoice, as did those who came before; from that, creatures are born. (13-76-14)
एतान्येव तु भूतानि प्राक्रोशन्वृत्तिकाङ्क्षया। वृत्तिदं चान्वपद्यन्त तृषिताः पितृमातृवत् ॥१३-७६-१५॥
But these very creatures cried out, longing for livelihood. Thirsty, they followed after the provider of livelihood as if (he were) their father and mother. (13-76-15)
इतीदं मनसा गत्वा प्रजासर्गार्थमात्मनः। प्रजापतिर्बलाधानममृतं प्रापिबत्तदा ॥१३-७६-१६॥
Thus, Prajapati, having mentally attained this for the sake of creation, then drank the nectar of strength for himself. (13-76-16)
स गतस्तस्य तृप्तिं तु गन्धं सुरभिमुद्गिरन्। ददर्शोद्गारसंवृत्तां सुरभिं मुखजां सुताम् ॥१३-७६-१७॥
He, having gone and emitting a pleasant fragrance, saw his daughter, who was born from his mouth and had become fragrant from eructation, as a result of his satisfaction. (13-76-17)
सासृजत्सौरभेयीस्तु सुरभिर्लोकमातरः। सुवर्णवर्णाः कपिलाः प्रजानां वृत्तिधेनवः ॥१३-७६-१८॥
Surabhi created the cows born of herself, who are mothers of the world; they are golden in color, tawny, the nourishing cows for all beings. (13-76-18)
तासाममृतवर्णानां क्षरन्तीनां समन्ततः। बभूवामृतजः फेनः स्रवन्तीनामिवोर्मिजः ॥१३-७६-१९॥
Foam born of nectar arose from those nectar-colored and flowing ones on all sides, like the foam produced by the waves of flowing waters. (13-76-19)
स वत्समुखविभ्रष्टो भवस्य भुवि तिष्ठतः। शिरस्यवाप तत्क्रुद्धः स तदोदैक्षत प्रभुः ॥ ललाटप्रभवेनाक्ष्णा रोहिणीः प्रदहन्निव ॥१३-७६-२०॥
He, fallen from the mouth of the calf, on the head of Bhava (Śiva) standing on the earth, then in anger, the Lord looked up at it; with his eye born of the forehead, he seemed to burn the Rohiṇīs (wives of the Moon). (13-76-20)
तत्तेजस्तु ततो रौद्रं कपिला गा विशां पते। नानावर्णत्वमनयन्मेघानिव दिवाकरः ॥१३-७६-२१॥
But that splendor then brought the tawny cows, O lord of men, into various colors, like the sun (does) to clouds. (13-76-21)
यास्तु तस्मादपक्रम्य सोममेवाभिसंश्रिताः। यथोत्पन्नाः स्ववर्णस्थास्ता नीता नान्यवर्णताम् ॥१३-७६-२२॥
But those who, having withdrawn from him, took refuge solely in Soma, have remained in their own class as they were born and have not been brought to another caste. (13-76-22)
अथ क्रुद्धं महादेवं प्रजापतिरभाषत। अमृतेनावसिक्तस्त्वं नोच्छिष्टं विद्यते गवाम् ॥१३-७६-२३॥
Then Prajāpati spoke to Mahādeva, who was angry: "Since you have been anointed with amṛta, there are no remnants left from the cows." (13-76-23)
यथा ह्यमृतमादाय सोमो विष्यन्दते पुनः। तथा क्षीरं क्षरन्त्येता रोहिण्योऽमृतसम्भवाः ॥१३-७६-२४॥
Just as Soma, having absorbed nectar, flows forth again, so these Rohini cows of nectar origin produce milk. (13-76-24)
न दुष्यत्यनिलो नाग्निर्न सुवर्णं न चोदधिः। नामृतेनामृतं पीतं वत्सपीता न वत्सला ॥१३-७६-२५॥
The wind is not corrupted, nor fire, nor gold, nor the ocean. Nectar is not changed by nectar, nor does the cow become less loving when her milk is drunk by the calves. (13-76-25)
इमाँल्लोकान्भरिष्यन्ति हविषा प्रस्नवेन च। आसामैश्वर्यमश्नीहि सर्वामृतमयं शुभम् ॥१३-७६-२६॥
These worlds will be sustained by the oblation and the residue. Enjoy the prosperity of these offerings, all of which are composed of immortality and are auspicious. (13-76-26)
वृषभं च ददौ तस्मै सह ताभिः प्रजापतिः। प्रसादयामास मनस्तेन रुद्रस्य भारत ॥१३-७६-२७॥
Prajāpati gave a bull to him along with those women. By that, he caused Rudra's mind to be pleased, O Bhārata. (13-76-27)
प्रीतश्चापि महादेवश्चकार वृषभं तदा। ध्वजं च वाहनं चैव तस्मात्स वृषभध्वजः ॥१३-७६-२८॥
Being pleased, Mahadeva at that time made the Bull, both as his banner and his vehicle; therefore, he is called the Bull-bannered one. (13-76-28)
ततो देवैर्महादेवस्तदा पशुपतिः कृतः। ईश्वरः स गवां मध्ये वृषाङ्क इति चोच्यते ॥१३-७६-२९॥
Then Mahadeva was made Pashupati by the gods at that time. The Lord, among cows, is also called Vṛṣāṅka. (13-76-29)
एवमव्यग्रवर्णानां कपिलानां महौजसाम्। प्रदाने प्रथमः कल्पः सर्वासामेव कीर्तितः ॥१३-७६-३०॥
Thus, regarding the tawny beings of unagitated color and great energy, in the offering, the first rite for all has been declared. (13-76-30)
लोकज्येष्ठा लोकवृत्तिप्रवृत्ता; रुद्रोपेताः सोमविष्यन्दभूताः। सौम्याः पुण्याः कामदाः प्राणदाश्च; गा वै दत्त्वा सर्वकामप्रदः स्यात् ॥१३-७६-३१॥
Those who are eldest among people, following the worldly way, associated with Rudra and possessing the essence of Soma, gentle and auspicious, givers of desires and life—having truly given cows, one attains the fulfillment of all desires. (13-76-31)
इमं गवां प्रभवविधानमुत्तमं; पठन्सदा शुचिरतिमङ्गलप्रियः। विमुच्यते कलिकलुषेण मानवः; प्रियं सुतान्पशुधनमाप्नुयात्तथा ॥१३-७६-३२॥
Whoever, pure and very fond of auspiciousness, always recites this excellent origin-procedure of cows is freed from the impurity of the Kali age; he also attains dear sons and cattle-wealth. (13-76-32)
हव्यं कव्यं तर्पणं शान्तिकर्म; यानं वासो वृद्धबालस्य पुष्टिम्। एतान्सर्वान्गोप्रदाने गुणान्वै; दाता राजन्नाप्नुयाद्वै सदैव ॥१३-७६-३३॥
O king, the giver of cows indeed always attains all these virtues: oblation (to gods), offering for ancestors, satisfaction of the manes, peace-bringing rites, a vehicle, clothing, nourishment of the old and the young. (13-76-33)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
पितामहस्याथ निशम्य वाक्यं; राजा सह भ्रातृभिराजमीढः। सौवर्णकांस्योपदुहास्ततो गाः; पार्थो ददौ ब्राह्मणसत्तमेभ्यः ॥१३-७६-३४॥
Then, having heard the grandsire's words, King Ajamiḍha, together with his brothers, Pārtha gave cows, which had golden and bronze milk-pails, to the best of the Brāhmaṇas. (13-76-34)
तथैव तेभ्योऽभिददौ द्विजेभ्यो; गवां सहस्राणि शतानि चैव। यज्ञान्समुद्दिश्य च दक्षिणार्थे; लोकान्विजेतुं परमां च कीर्तिम् ॥१३-७६-३५॥
Similarly, he gave to those twice-born Brahmins thousands and hundreds of cows. With reference to sacrifices and for the sake of gifts, to conquer worlds and attain supreme fame. (13-76-35)
