13.078
vasiṣṭha uvāca॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
śataṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ tapas taptaṃ suduścaram। gobhiḥ pūrvavisṛṣṭābhir gacchema śreṣṭhatāmiti ॥13-78-1॥
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)
loke'smin dakṣiṇānāṃ ca sarvāsāṃ vayam uttamāḥ। bhavema na ca lipyema doṣeṇeti parantapa ॥13-78-2॥
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)
sa eva cetasā tena hato lipyeta sarvadā। śakṛtā ca pavitrārthaṃ kurvīran devamānuṣāḥ॥13-78-3॥
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)
tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca। pradātāraś ca golokān gaccheyur iti mānada ॥13-78-4॥
Thus, O giver of honor, all beings—immobile and mobile—and those who give (cows) might attain the worlds of cows. (13-78-4)
tābhyo varaṃ dadau brahmā tapaso ’nte svayaṃ prabhuḥ। evaṃ bhavatv iti vibhur lokāṃs tārayateti ca ॥13-78-5॥
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)
uttasthuḥ siddhikāmās tā bhūta-bhavyasya mātaraḥ. tapaso 'nte mahārāja gāvo loka-parāyaṇāḥ ॥13-78-6॥
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)
tasmādgāvo mahābhāgāḥ pavitraṃ paramucyate। tathaiva sarvabhūtānāṃ gāvastiṣṭhanti mūrdhani॥13-78-7॥
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)
samānavatsāṃ kapilāṃ dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm। suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ brahmaloke mahīyate ॥13-78-8॥
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)
rohiṇīṃ tulyavatsāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm। suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ sūryaloke mahīyate ॥13-78-9॥
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)
samānavatsāṃ śabalāṃ dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm। suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ somaloke mahīyate ॥13-78-10॥
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)
samānavatsāṃ śvetāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm. suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītām indraloke mahīyate ॥13-78-11॥
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)
samānavatsāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm। suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītām agniloke mahīyate ॥13-78-12॥
"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)
samānavatsāṃ dhūmrāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm। suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ yāmyaloke mahīyate ॥13-78-13॥
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)
apāṃ phenasavarṇāṃ tu savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām। pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ vāruṇaṃ lokamaśnute॥13-78-14॥
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)
vātareṇusavarṇāṃ tu savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām। pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ vāyuloke mahīyate॥13-78-15॥
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)
hiraṇyavarṇāṃ piṅgākṣīṃ savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām। pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ kauberaṃ lokamaśnute ॥13-78-16॥
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)
palāla-dhūmra-varṇāṁ tu savatsāṁ kāṁsya-dohanām। pradāya vastra-saṁvītāṁ pitṛ-loke mahīyate॥13-78-17॥
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)
savaṭsāṃ pīvarīṃ dattvā śitikaṇṭhām-alaṅkṛtām। vaiśvadevam-asambādhaṃ sthānaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ prapadyate॥13-78-18॥
Having given a fat cow with a calf, adorned for Śitikaṇṭha, for the unobstructed Viśvadeva, he attains an excellent place. (13-78-18)
samānavatsāṃ gaurīṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm। suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ vasūnāṃ lokamaśnute ॥13-78-19॥
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)
pāṇḍukambalavarṇāṃ tu savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām। pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ sādhyānāṃ lokamaśnute॥13-78-20॥
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)
vairāṭapṛṣṭhamukṣāṇaṃ sarvaratnairalaṅkṛtam। pradāya marutāṃ lokānajarānpratipadyate ॥13-78-21॥
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)
vatsopapannāṃ nīlāṅgāṃ sarvaratnasamanvitām। gandharvāpsarasāṃ lokāndattvā prāpnoti mānavaḥ॥13-78-22॥
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)
śitikaṇṭham anaḍvāhaṁ sarvaratnair alaṅkṛtam। dattvā prajāpater lokān viśokaḥ pratipadyate॥13-78-23॥
"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)
gopradānarato yāti bhittvā jaladasañcayān। vimānenārkavarṇena divi rājanvirājatā ॥13-78-24॥
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)
taṃ cāruveṣāḥ suśroṇyaḥ sahasraṃ varayoṣitaḥ। ramayanti naraśreṣṭha gopradānarataṃ naram ॥13-78-25॥
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)
vīṇānāṃ vallakīnām ca nūpurāṇām ca śiñjitaiḥ। hāsaiś ca hariṇākṣīṇām prasuptaḥ pratibodhyate ॥13-78-26॥
The sleeper is awakened by the tinkling of vīṇās, vallakīs, anklets, and by the laughter of doe-eyed women. (13-78-26)
yāvanti lomāni bhavanti dhenvā; stāvanti varṣāṇi mahīyate saḥ. svargāccyutaścāpi tato nṛloke; kule samutpatsyati gomināṃ saḥ ॥13-78-27॥
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)
