13.080
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
pavitriṇāṃ pavitraṃ yacchreṣṭhaṃ loke ca yadbhavet। pāvanaṃ paramaṃ caiva tanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥13-80-1॥
O grandsire, tell me which is the purest and supreme purifier among all purifying things that may exist in the world. (13-80-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
gāvo mahārthāḥ puṇyāś ca tārayanti ca mānavān। dhārayanti prajāś ca imāḥ payasā haviṣā tathā॥13-80-2॥
Cows are of great value, auspicious, and they save humans. These also support all creatures with their milk and clarified butter. (13-80-2)
na hi puṇyatamaṃ kiñcid gobhyo bharatasattama। etāḥ pavitrāḥ puṇyāś ca triṣu lokeṣu anuttamāḥ ॥13-80-3॥
O best of the Bharatas, there is indeed nothing more meritorious than cows; these are holy purifiers, unsurpassed in all the three worlds. (13-80-3)
devānām upariṣṭāc ca gāvaḥ prativasanti vai। dattvā caitā narapate yānti svargaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ ॥13-80-4॥
Cows dwell above the gods, and wise men, O king, having given these (cows), indeed go to heaven. (13-80-4)
māndhātā yauvanāśvaś ca yayātir nahuṣas tathā। gāvo dadantaḥ satataṃ sahasraśatasaṃmitāḥ ॥ gatāḥ paramakaṃ sthānaṃ devair api sudurlabham ॥13-80-5॥
Māndhātā, Yauvanāśva, Yayāti, and Nahuṣa also, and cows that gave constantly, numbering in hundreds and thousands, have reached the highest abode, which is very difficult for even the gods to attain. (13-80-5)
api cātra purāvṛttaṃ kathayiṣyāmi te'nagha। ṛṣīṇāmuttamaṃ dhīmān kṛṣṇadvāipāyanaṃ śukaḥ। abhivādyāhnikam kṛtvā śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ॥ pitaraṃ paripapraccha dṛṣṭalokaparāvaram॥ 13-80-7॥
Now, O sinless one, I shall narrate here an ancient tale: Śuka, the wise son of Vyāsa, the best among sages, after saluting (his father), having performed his daily observances, pure and with a disciplined mind, thoroughly questioned his father, who had witnessed all aspects of the world. (13-80-7)
ko yajñaḥ sarvayajñānāṃ variṣṭha upalakṣyate। kiṃ ca kṛtvā paraṃ svargaṃ prāpnuvanti manīṣiṇaḥ ॥13-80-8॥
Which sacrifice is regarded as the highest among all sacrifices? And what deed do the wise perform to attain supreme heaven? (13-80-8)
kena devāḥ pavitреṇa svargam aśnanti vā vibho। kiṃ ca yajñasya yajñatvaṃ kva ca yajñaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ ॥13-80-9॥
By what do the gods reach heaven through purification, O mighty One? What constitutes the sacrificial essence of sacrifice, and where is sacrifice established? (13-80-9)
dānānām uttamaṃ kiṃ ca kiṃ ca satram ataḥ param। pavitrāṇāṃ pavitraṃ ca yat tad brūhi mama anagha ॥13-80-10॥
Tell me, O sinless one, what is the best among gifts, and what is the highest sacrifice; and what is the supreme purifier among purifiers. (13-80-10)
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṁ vyāsaḥ paramadharmavit। putrāyākathayatsarvaṁ tattvena bharatarṣabha ॥13-80-11॥
O best of the Bharatas, having heard this, Vyāsa, the knower of the highest dharma, spoke everything truly to his son. (13-80-11)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
gāvaḥ pratiṣṭhā bhūtānāṃ tathā gāvaḥ parāyaṇam। gāvaḥ puṇyāḥ pavitrāś ca pāvanaṃ dharma eva ca ॥13-80-12॥
Cows are the foundation and refuge of all beings; they are holy, pure, purifying, and embody righteousness itself. (13-80-12)
pūrvam-āsanna-śṛṅgā vai gāva iti anuśuśrumaḥ। śṛṅgārthe samupāsanta tāḥ kila prabhum-avyayam॥13-80-13॥
We have heard that, in former times, the cows, when they had just grown horns, indeed approached the imperishable Lord for the sake of their horns. (13-80-13)
tato brahmā tu gāḥ prāyam-upaviṣṭāḥ samīkṣya ha। īpsitaṃ pradadau tābhyo gobhyaḥ pratyekaśaḥ prabhuḥ॥13-80-14॥
Then Brahmā, having observed the cows seated nearby, indeed gave to each of them individually what they desired, the lord. (13-80-14)
tāsāṃ śṛṅgāṇy ajāyanta yasyā yādṛṅ manogatam। nānāvarṇāḥ śṛṅgavanty astā vyarocanta putraka ॥13-80-15॥
O dear son, among them, the horns were born according to what was in their minds; those having horns of various colors shone brightly. (13-80-15)
brahmaṇā varadattās tā havyakavyapradāḥ śubhāḥ। puṇyāḥ pavitrāḥ subhagā divyasaṃsthānalakṣaṇāḥ॥ gāvas tejo mahad divyaṃ gavāṃ dānaṃ praśasyate॥13-80-16॥
Cows, bestowed as a boon by Brahmā, are givers of offerings to gods and ancestors, are auspicious, meritorious, pure, fortunate, and bear divine marks. Cows possess great divine lustre. The gift of cows is especially praised. (13-80-16)
ye caitāḥ samprayacchanti sādhavo vītamatsarāḥ। te vai sukṛtinaḥ proktāḥ sarvadānapradāśca te ॥ gavāṃ lokaṃ tathā puṇyam āpnavanti ca te' nagha ॥13-80-17॥
Those who, being virtuous and free from envy, bestow these cows—they are indeed called the truly meritorious and givers of all gifts. And they attain the world of cows and merit, O sinless one. (13-80-17)
yatra vṛkṣā madhuphala divyapuṣpaphalopagāḥ | puṣpāṇi ca sugandhīni divyāni dvijasattama ॥13-80-18॥
O best of twice-born, where the trees are honey-fruited and bear divine flowers and fruits, and where the flowers are fragrant and divine. (13-80-18)
sarvā maṇimayī bhūmiḥ sūkṣmakañcanavālukā। sarvatra sukhasaṁsparśā niṣpaṅkā nīrajā śubhā ॥13-80-19॥
The entire earth was made of jewels, covered with fine golden sand; everywhere was pleasant to the touch, spotless, dustless, and auspicious. (13-80-19)
raktotpalavanaizcaiva maṇidaṇḍairhiraṇmayaiḥ। taruṇādityasaṅkāśairbhānti tatra jalāśayāḥ॥13-80-20॥
There, reservoirs of water shine, adorned with groves of red lotuses and columns of jewels and gold, resembling the youthful sun. (13-80-20)
mahārhamaṇipatraiś ca kāñcanaprabha-kesaraiḥ। nīlotpala-vimiśraiś ca sarobhir bahupaṅkajaiḥ ॥13-80-21॥
With leaves made of most precious gems and filaments radiant like gold, with lakes interspersed with blue lotuses and filled with many lotuses. (13-80-21)
karavīravanaīḥ phullaiḥ sahasrāvartasaṁvṛtaiḥ। santānakavanaīḥ phullairvṛkṣaiś ca samalaṅkṛtāḥ॥13-80-22॥
They were splendidly adorned with forests of blossoming oleander, encircled by countless whirls, and with blooming santānaka forests and blossoming trees. (13-80-22)
nirmalābhiś ca muktābhiḥ maṇibhiś ca mahādhanaḥ; uddhūtapulinās tatra jātarūpaiś ca nimnagāḥ ॥13-80-23॥
There, the sandbanks of rivers are heaped with pure pearls, jewels, great treasures, and gold nuggets. (13-80-23)
sarvaratnamayaiś citrair avagāḍhā nagottamaiḥ। jātarūpamayaiś cānyair hutāśanasamaprabhaiḥ॥13-80-24॥
She was surrounded by the best mountains, brilliantly adorned with all sorts of gems, variegated and immersed, and with others made of gold, shining with radiance equal to that of fire. (13-80-24)
sauvarṇagirayastatra maṇiratnaśiloccayāḥ। sarvaratnamayairbhānti śṛṅgaiścārubhirucchritaiḥ॥13-80-25॥
There, the golden mountains, heaps of gemstone rocks, shine with peaks that are beautifully lofty and made of all kinds of jewels. (13-80-25)
nityapuṣpaphalās tatra nagāḥ patrarathākulāḥ। divyagandharasaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalaiś ca bharatarṣabha ॥13-80-26॥
O best of the Bharatas, there the trees bear flowers and fruits at all times, are covered with leafy canopies, and are adorned with flowers and fruits of divine fragrance and taste. (13-80-26)
ramante puṇyakarmāṇas tatra nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira। sarvakāmasamṛddhārthā niḥśokā gatamanyavaḥ ॥13-80-27॥
There, O Yudhiṣṭhira, those who perform meritorious deeds always rejoice; with all desires fulfilled, free from sorrow and with anger gone. (13-80-27)
vimāneṣu vicitreṣu ramaṇīyeṣu bhārata। modante puṇyakarmāṇo viharanto yaśasvinaḥ ॥13-80-28॥
O Bhārata, the illustrious ones of virtuous deeds, rejoicing and wandering, move about in delightful and varied aerial vehicles. (13-80-28)
upakrīḍanti tān rājan śubhāś cāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ। etāṃl lokān avāpnoti gāṃ dattvā vai yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-80-29॥
O King, auspicious groups of apsarases play with them. Having given a cow, Yudhiṣṭhira, one indeed attains these worlds. (13-80-29)
yāsām-adhipatiḥ pūṣā māruto balavān-balī। aiśvarye varuṇo rājā tā māṃ pāntu yugandharāḥ॥13-80-30॥
May the Yugandharās, of whom Pūṣā is the lord, the mighty Maruta is strong, and Varuṇa is king in sovereignty, protect me. (13-80-30)
surūpā bahurūpāś ca viśvarūpāś ca mātaraḥ। prājāpatyā iti brahmañ japen nityaṃ yatavrataḥ॥13-80-31॥
O Brāhmaṇa, one who is devoted to discipline should always recite: 'Of beautiful form, of many forms, of universal forms, and mothers, daughters of Prajāpati.' (13-80-31)
gāstu śuśrūṣate yaś ca samanveti ca sarvaśaḥ। tasmai tuṣṭāḥ prayacchanti varān api sudurlabhān॥13-80-32॥
But cows, being satisfied, grant even those boons that are very difficult to obtain to the one who serves and attends them completely in every way. (13-80-32)
na druhyen manasā cāpi goṣu tā hi sukhapradāḥ। arcayet sadā caiva namaskāraiś ca pūjayet ॥ dāntaḥ prītamanā nityaṃ gavāṃ vyuṣṭiṃ tathāśnute ॥13-80-33॥
One should not harbor hostility even in the mind toward cows, for they are truly the givers of happiness. One should always worship and honor them with salutations. A self-restrained person, with a pleased mind, always attains the good fortune associated with cows. (13-80-33)
yena devāḥ pavitreṇa bhuñjate lokamuttamam। yatpavitraṃ pavitrāṇāṃ tadghṛtaṃ śirasā vahet ॥13-80-34॥
The clarified butter by which the gods enjoy the highest world, which is the purifier among purifiers, that one should carry on the head. (13-80-34)
ghṛtena juhuyād agniṃ ghṛtena svasti vācayet। ghṛtaṃ prāśed ghṛtaṃ dadyād gavāṃ vyuṣṭiṃ tathāśnute॥13-80-35॥
One should make offerings into fire with ghee and proclaim well-being with ghee. One should eat ghee and give ghee; thereby, one attains the increase of cattle. (13-80-35)
tryahuṣṇaṃ piben mūtraṃ tryahuṣṇaṃ pibet payaḥ। gavām uṣṇaṃ payaḥ pītvā tryahuṣṇaṃ ghṛtaṃ pibet॥ tryahuṣṇaṃ ghṛtaṃ pītvā vāyu-bhakṣo bhavet tryaham॥13-80-36॥
He should drink warm urine for three days and warm milk for three days; after drinking the warm milk of cows, he should drink hot ghee for three days. After drinking hot ghee for three days, he should live on air for three days. (13-80-36)
nirhṛtaiś ca yavair gobhir māsaṃ prasṛta-yāvakaḥ। brahma-hatyā-samaṃ pāpaṃ sarvam etena śudhyati ॥13-80-37॥
By subsisting for a month on daily portions of dehusked barley and with the aid of cows, all sin equal to brahminicide is purified by this. (13-80-37)
parābhavārthaṃ daityānāṃ devaiḥ śaucam idaṃ kṛtam। devatvam api ca prāptāḥ saṃsiddhāś ca mahābalāḥ ॥13-80-38॥
This purification was performed by the Devas in order to defeat the Daityas. The greatly powerful ones have thus attained both divinity and perfection. (13-80-38)
gāvaḥ pavitrāḥ puṇyāś ca pāvanaṃ paramaṃ mahat। tāś ca dattvā dvijātibhyo naraḥ svargam upāśnute॥13-80-39॥
Cows are pure, holy, purifying, supremely great; and by gifting them to the twice-born, a man obtains heaven. (13-80-39)
gavāṃ madhye śucirbhūtvā gomatīṃ manasā japet। pūtābhiradbhirācamya śucirbhavati nirmalaḥ ॥13-80-40॥
One who, after being purified in the midst of cows, mentally recites (the name of) the Gomatī, and after sipping purified waters, becomes pure and spotless. (13-80-40)
agnimadhye gavāṃ madhye brāhmaṇānāṃ ca saṃsadi. vidyā-veda-vrata-snāta brāhmaṇāḥ puṇya-karmiṇaḥ ॥13-80-41॥
In the midst of fire, amid cows, and in a gathering of brāhmaṇas, brāhmaṇas who are dedicated to knowledge, the Veda, and vows, and who perform virtuous deeds, are especially notable. (13-80-41)
adhyāpayērañśiṣyānvai gōmatīṁ yajñasaṁmitām। trirātrōpōṣitaḥ śrutvā gōmatīṁ labhatē varam॥13-80-42॥
One should indeed instruct students about the Gomati, which is equal to a sacrifice. One who, after fasting for three nights, hears about the Gomati attains a boon. (13-80-42)
putrakāmaśca labhate putraṃ dhanamathāpi ca। patikāmā ca bhartāraṃ sarvakāmāṃśca mānavaḥ ॥ gāvastuṣṭāḥ prayacchanti sevitā vai na saṃśayaḥ ॥13-80-43॥
A person who desires a son obtains a son and also wealth; a woman wishing for a husband also gets a husband, and a man attains all his wishes. When pleased and served, cows certainly grant (these desires); there is no doubt about it. (13-80-43)
evam etā mahābhāgā yajñiyāḥ sarvakāmadāḥ. rohiṇya iti jānīhi na etābhyo vidyate param ॥13-80-44॥
Know that these Rohiṇīs, who are highly fortunate, worthy of sacrifice, and givers of all desires, are supreme; there is nothing higher than these. (13-80-44)
ity-uktaḥ sa mahātejāḥ śukaḥ pitrā mahātmanā। pūjayāmāsa gā nityaṃ tasmāt tvam api pūjaya ॥13-80-45॥
After being thus addressed by his great-souled father, Śuka, who was of great brilliance, always worshipped cows; therefore, you too should worship. (13-80-45)
