13.076
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhūyaḥ śāntanavaṃ nṛpa। godāne vistaraṃ dhīmān papraccha vinayānvitaḥ ॥13-76-1॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
gopradāne guṇān samyak punaḥ prabrūhi bhārata। na hi tṛpyāmy ahaṃ vīra śṛṇvānaḥ amṛtam īdṛśam ॥13-76-2॥
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)
ityukto dharmarājena tadā śāntanavo nṛpa। samyag-āha guṇāṃs tasmai gopradānasya kevalān ॥13-76-3॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
vatsalāṃ guṇasampannāṃ taruṇīṃ vastrasaṃvṛtām। dattvedṛśīṃ gāṃ viprāya sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate॥13-76-4॥
Whoever gives an affectionate, virtuous, young cow, covered with cloth, to a Brāhmaṇa is freed from all sins. (13-76-4)
asuryā nāma te lokā gāṃ dattvā tatra gacchati। pītodakāṃ jagdhatṛṇāṃ naṣṭadugdhāṃ nirindriyām ॥13-76-5॥
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)
jarogrām-upayuktārthāṃ jīrṇāṃ kūpam-iva ā-jalam। dattvā tamaḥ praviśati dvijaṃ kleśena yojayet ॥13-76-6॥
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)
duṣṭā ruṣṭā vyādhitā durbalā vā; na dātavyā yāś ca mūlyair adattaiḥ. kleśair vipraṃ yo'phalaiḥ saṃyunakti; tasyā-vīryāś cāphalāś caiva lokāḥ ॥13-76-7॥
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)
balānvitaāḥ śīla-vayo-upapannāḥ; sarvāḥ praśaṃsanti sugandhavatyaḥ. yathā hi gaṅgā saritāṃ variṣṭhā; tathā arjunīnām kapilā variṣṭhā ॥13-76-8॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kasmātsamāne bahulāpradāne; sadbhiḥ praśastaṃ kapilāpradānam। viśeṣam icchāmi mahānubhāva; śrotuṃ samartho hi bhavān pravaktum ॥13-76-9॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
vṛddhānāṁ bruvatāṁ tāta śrutaṁ me yatprabhāṣase। vakṣyāmi tadaśeṣeṇa rohiṇyo nirmitā yathā ॥13-76-10॥
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)
prajāḥ sṛjeti vyādiṣṭaḥ pūrvaṃ dakṣaḥ svayambhuvā। asṛjad vṛttim eva agre prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā॥13-76-11॥
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)
yathā hy amṛtam āśritya vartayanti divaukasaḥ। tathā vṛttiṃ samāśritya vartayanti prajā vibho ॥13-76-12॥
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)
acarebhyaś ca bhūtebhyaś carāḥ śreṣṭhās tato narāḥ। brāhmaṇāś ca tataḥ śreṣṭhās teṣu yajñāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ ॥13-76-13॥
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)
yajñair āpyāyate somaḥ sa ca goṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ। sarve devāḥ pramodante pūrvavṛttās tataḥ prajāḥ॥13-76-14॥
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)
etānyeva tu bhūtāni prākrośan vṛttikāṅkṣayā। vṛttidaṃ ca anvapadyanta tṛṣitāḥ pitṛmātṛvat ॥13-76-15॥
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)
itīdaṃ manasā gatvā prajāsargārthamātmanaḥ। prajāpatir balādhānam amṛtaṃ prāpibat tadā॥13-76-16॥
Thus, Prajapati, having mentally attained this for the sake of creation, then drank the nectar of strength for himself. (13-76-16)
sa gatastasya tṛptiṁ tu gandhaṁ surabhimudgiran। dadarśodgārasaṁvṛttāṁ surabhiṁ mukhajāṁ sutām ॥13-76-17॥
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)
sāsṛjatsaura bheyīstu surabhirlokamātaraḥ। suvarṇavarṇāḥ kapilāḥ prajānāṃ vṛttidhenavaḥ ॥13-76-18॥
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)
tāsām amṛta-varṇānām kṣarantīnām samantataḥ। babhūva amṛta-jaḥ phenaḥ sravantīnām iva ūrmi-jaḥ॥13-76-19॥
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)
sa vatsamukha-vibhraṣṭaḥ bhavasya bhuvi tiṣṭhataḥ। śirasi avāpat tat kruddhaḥ sa tat udaiākṣata prabhuḥ॥ lalāṭa-prabhavena akṣṇā rohiṇīḥ pradahann iva॥13-76-20॥
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)
tat-tejas tu tato raudraṁ kapilā gā viśāṁ pate | nānā-varṇatvam anayat meghān iva divākaraḥ ॥13-76-21॥
But that splendor then brought the tawny cows, O lord of men, into various colors, like the sun (does) to clouds. (13-76-21)
yāstu tasmād apakramya somam evābhisaṁśritāḥ। yathotpannāḥ svavarṇasthās tā nītā nānyavarṇatām॥13-76-22॥
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)
atha kruddhaṃ mahādevaṃ prajāpati rabhāṣata। amṛtenāvasiktas tvaṃ nocchiṣṭaṃ vidyate gavām॥13-76-23॥
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)
yathā hy amṛtam ādāya somo viṣyandate punaḥ। tathā kṣīraṃ kṣaranty etā rohiṇyo 'mṛta-sambhavāḥ॥13-76-24॥
Just as Soma, having absorbed nectar, flows forth again, so these Rohini cows of nectar origin produce milk. (13-76-24)
na duṣyaty anilo nāgnir na suvarṇaṃ na codadhiḥ. nāmṛtenāmṛtaṃ pītaṃ vatsapītā na vatsalā ॥13-76-25॥
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)
imāṁl lokān bhariṣyanti haviṣā prasnavena ca। āsām aiśvaryam aśnīhi sarvam ṛtamayaṁ śubham॥13-76-26॥
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)
vṛṣabhaṃ ca dadau tasmai saha tābhiḥ prajāpatiḥ। prasādayāmāsa manas tena rudrasya bhārata॥13-76-27॥
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)
prītaś cāpi mahādevaś cakāra vṛṣabhaṃ tadā। dhvajaṃ ca vāhanaṃ caiva tasmāt sa vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ ॥13-76-28॥
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)
tato devair mahādevas tadā paśupatiḥ kṛtaḥ। īśvaraḥ sa gavāṃ madhye vṛṣāṅka iti cocyate ॥13-76-29॥
Then Mahadeva was made Pashupati by the gods at that time. The Lord, among cows, is also called Vṛṣāṅka. (13-76-29)
evam-avyagravarṇānāṃ kapilānāṃ mahojasām। pradāne prathamaḥ kalpaḥ sarvāsāmeva kīrtitaḥ ॥13-76-30॥
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)
lokajyeṣṭhā lokavṛttipravṛttā; rudropetāḥ somaviṣyandabhūtāḥ. saumyāḥ puṇyāḥ kāmadāḥ prāṇadāśca; gā vai dattvā sarvakāmapradaḥ syāt ॥13-76-31॥
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)
imaṁ gavāṁ prabhavavidhānamuttamaṁ; paṭhansadā śuciratimaṅgalapriyaḥ। vimucyate kalikaluṣeṇa mānavaḥ; priyaṁ sutāmpaśudhanamāpnuyāttathā ॥13-76-32॥
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)
havyaṁ kavyaṁ tarpaṇaṁ śāntikarma; yānaṁ vāso vṛddhabālasya puṣṭim। etānsarvāngo-pradāne guṇānvai; dātā rājannāpnuyādvai sadaiva ॥13-76-33॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
pitāmahasyātha niśamya vākyaṁ; rājā saha bhrātṛbhir ājamīḍhaḥ। sauvarṇakāṁsyopaduhās tato gāḥ; pārtho dadau brāhmaṇasattamebhyaḥ॥13-76-34॥
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)
tathaiva tebhyo'bhidadau dvijebhyo; gavāṃ sahasrāṇi śatāni caiva. yajñān samuddiśya ca dakṣiṇārthe; lokān vijetuṃ paramāṃ ca kīrtim ॥13-76-35॥
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)
