13.078
वसिष्ठ उवाच॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
शतं वर्षसहस्राणां तपस्तप्तं सुदुश्चरम्। गोभिः पूर्वविसृष्टाभिर्गच्छेम श्रेष्ठतामिति ॥१३-७८-१॥
We have performed austerities for a hundred thousand years, which were very difficult to practice. With the cows previously released, may we thus attain excellence. (13-78-1)
लोकेऽस्मिन्दक्षिणानां च सर्वासां वयमुत्तमाः। भवेम न च लिप्येम दोषेणेति परन्तप ॥१३-७८-२॥
In this world, O scorcher of foes, may we become the best among all the southern peoples and not be stained by fault. (13-78-2)
स एव चेतसा तेन हतो लिप्येत सर्वदा। शकृता च पवित्रार्थं कुर्वीरन्देवमानुषाः ॥१३-७८-३॥
He alone, if struck by the mind in such a way, would always be tainted. Gods and men should, using excrement, perform purification. (13-78-3)
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च। प्रदातारश्च गोलोकान्गच्छेयुरिति मानद ॥१३-७८-४॥
Thus, O giver of honor, all beings—immobile and mobile—and those who give (cows) might attain the worlds of cows. (13-78-4)
ताभ्यो वरं ददौ ब्रह्मा तपसोऽन्ते स्वयं प्रभुः। एवं भवत्विति विभुर्लोकांस्तारयतेति च ॥१३-७८-५॥
At the end of their austerity, Brahmā himself, the lord, granted them a boon. Thus, saying "let it be," the all-pervading one indeed saves the worlds. (13-78-5)
उत्तस्थुः सिद्धिकामास्ता भूतभव्यस्य मातरः। तपसोऽन्ते महाराज गावो लोकपरायणाः ॥१३-७८-६॥
O great king, at the end of their austerity, the cows—who are the mothers of the past and the future, desirous of success, and devoted to the world—rose up. (13-78-6)
तस्माद्गावो महाभागाः पवित्रं परमुच्यते। तथैव सर्वभूतानां गावस्तिष्ठन्ति मूर्धनि ॥१३-७८-७॥
Therefore, cows—being greatly fortunate—are said to be the highest purity. In the same way, among all beings, cows are regarded as supreme. (13-78-7)
समानवत्सां कपिलां धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-८॥
By giving a tawny-colored cow with a similar calf, full of milk, of virtuous conduct, and clothed in cloth, one is honored in Brahma's world. (13-78-8)
रोहिणीं तुल्यवत्सां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां सूर्यलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-९॥
One who gives a reddish cow with a similar calf, full of milk, disciplined and draped in cloth, becomes exalted in the world of the Sun. (13-78-9)
समानवत्सां शबलां धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां सोमलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-१०॥
By giving a spotted cow with a calf of the same (age), rich in milk, virtuous, and clothed in a garment, one becomes honored in the world of Soma. (13-78-10)
समानवत्सां श्वेतां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामिन्द्रलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-११॥
One who gives a white cow with similar calves, abounding in milk, well-disciplined and clad in cloth, is honored in the world of Indra. (13-78-11)
समानवत्सां कृष्णां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामग्निलोके माहीयते ॥१३-७८-१२॥
"Having gifted a black cow with an equal-aged calf, yielding milk, endowed with good vows and clothed in garments, one is honored in the world of Agni." (13-78-12)
समानवत्सां धूम्रां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां याम्यलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-१३॥
By giving a grey cow with calves of the same age, full of milk, virtuous and covered with cloth, one is honored in the world of Yama. (13-78-13)
अपां फेनसवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां वारुणं लोकमश्नुते ॥१३-७८-१४॥
But by giving a cow of the color of water's foam, with a calf, a bronze milking-vessel, and clothed in cloth, one attains the world of Varuṇa. (13-78-14)
वातरेणुसवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां वायुलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-१५॥
But whoever gives a cow of the color of wind-blown dust, along with her calf, equipped with a bronze milking vessel and clothed in cloth, is honored in the domain of the wind. (13-78-15)
हिरण्यवर्णां पिङ्गाक्षीं सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां कौबेरं लोकमश्नुते ॥१३-७८-१६॥
By giving a golden-hued, tawny-eyed cow with a calf and a bronze milking vessel, adorned in cloth, one attains the world of Kubera. (13-78-16)
पलालधूम्रवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां पितृलोके महीयते ॥१३-७८-१७॥
But one who donates a straw-smoke colored cow along with her calf, furnished with a bronze milking vessel and draped in cloth, becomes honored in the world of the ancestors. (13-78-17)
सवत्सां पीवरीं दत्त्वा शितिकण्ठामलङ्कृताम्। वैश्वदेवमसम्बाधं स्थानं श्रेष्ठं प्रपद्यते ॥१३-७८-१८॥
Having given a fat cow with a calf, adorned for Śitikaṇṭha, for the unobstructed Viśvadeva, he attains an excellent place. (13-78-18)
समानवत्सां गौरीं तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां वसूनां लोकमश्नुते ॥१३-७८-१९॥
But by giving a fair milch cow with a calf of the same age, rich in milk, of good vows and clothed with a garment, one attains the world of the Vasus. (13-78-19)
पाण्डुकम्बलवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां साध्यानां लोकमश्नुते ॥१३-७८-२०॥
By giving a cow of pale woolen color, with a calf, equipped with a bronze vessel for milking and draped in cloth, one attains the world of the Sādhyas. (13-78-20)
वैराटपृष्ठमुक्षाणं सर्वरत्नैरलङ्कृतम्। प्रदाय मरुतां लोकानजरान्प्रतिपद्यते ॥१३-७८-२१॥
By presenting the object with a mighty bull's back, decorated with every jewel, one attains the eternal worlds of the Maruts. (13-78-21)
वत्सोपपन्नां नीलाङ्गां सर्वरत्नसमन्विताम्। गन्धर्वाप्सरसां लोकान्दत्त्वा प्राप्नोति मानवः ॥१३-७८-२२॥
When a man donates a dark-complexioned cow that has just calved and is adorned with all jewels, he attains the worlds of the Gandharvas and Apsarases. (13-78-22)
शितिकण्ठमनड्वाहं सर्वरत्नैरलङ्कृतम्। दत्त्वा प्रजापतेर्लोकान्विशोकः प्रतिपद्यते ॥१३-७८-२३॥
"By bestowing the bull-mount of Śiva, adorned with all jewels, one attains the worlds of Prajāpati and becomes free from sorrow." (13-78-23)
गोप्रदानरतो याति भित्त्वा जलदसञ्चयान्। विमानेनार्कवर्णेन दिवि राजन्विराजता ॥१३-७८-२४॥
O king, the one devoted to giving cows rises, piercing masses of clouds, in a sun-bright aerial chariot, and shines in heaven. (13-78-24)
तं चारुवेषाः सुश्रोण्यः सहस्रं वरयोषितः। रमयन्ति नरश्रेष्ठ गोप्रदानरतं नरम् ॥१३-७८-२५॥
O best of men, a thousand excellent women with beautiful attire and lovely hips delight the man who is engaged in the giving of cows. (13-78-25)
वीणानां वल्लकीनां च नूपुराणां च शिञ्जितैः। हासैश्च हरिणाक्षीणां प्रसुप्तः प्रतिबोध्यते ॥१३-७८-२६॥
The sleeper is awakened by the tinkling of vīṇās, vallakīs, anklets, and by the laughter of doe-eyed women. (13-78-26)
यावन्ति लोमानि भवन्ति धेन्वा; स्तावन्ति वर्षाणि महीयते सः। स्वर्गाच्च्युतश्चापि ततो नृलोके; कुले समुत्पत्स्यति गोमिनां सः ॥१३-७८-२७॥
He is honored in heaven for as many years as there are hairs on the cow; when fallen from heaven, he will also be born in the human world in a family of cattle owners. (13-78-27)
