13.081
श्रीगोसंवादः
Dialogue of Śrī and the Cow.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said;
मया गवां पुरीषं वै श्रिया जुष्टमिति श्रुतम्। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं संशयोऽत्र हि मे महान् ॥१३-८१-१॥
I have heard that 'the dung of cows is indeed endowed with prosperity.' I wish to hear about this, for I have a great doubt about it. (13-81-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गोभिर्नृपेह संवादं श्रिया भरतसत्तम ॥१३-८१-२॥
O best of the Bharatas, here too they relate this ancient story, a dialogue held among the cows with Śrī, O king. (13-81-2)
श्रीः कृत्वेह वपुः कान्तं गोमध्यं प्रविवेश ह। गावोऽथ विस्मितास्तस्या दृष्ट्वा रूपस्य सम्पदम् ॥१३-८१-३॥
Śrī assumed a beautiful form here and indeed entered among the cows. The cows, then, were astonished, having seen the splendor of her beauty. (13-81-3)
गाव ऊचुः॥
The cows said.
कासि देवि कुतो वा त्वं रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि। विस्मिताः स्म महाभागे तव रूपस्य सम्पदा ॥१३-८१-४॥
O goddess, who are you? From where do you come, you who are incomparable in form on earth? We are truly astonished, O greatly fortunate one, at the splendor of your form. (13-81-4)
इच्छामस्त्वां वयं ज्ञातुं का त्वं क्व च गमिष्यसि। तत्त्वेन च सुवर्णाभे सर्वमेतद्ब्रवीहि नः ॥१३-८१-५॥
We wish to know you—who you are, where you will go; therefore, O golden-hued one, truly tell us all this. (13-81-5)
श्रीरुवाच॥
The blessed one said.
लोककान्तास्मि भद्रं वः श्रीर्नाम्नेह परिश्रुता। मया दैत्याः परित्यक्ता विनष्टाः शाश्वतीः समाः ॥१३-८१-६॥
I am the beloved of the worlds; auspiciousness be upon you. Here, I am known by the name Śrī. By me, the Daityas have been abandoned and destroyed for everlasting ages. (13-81-6)
इन्द्रो विवस्वान्सोमश्च विष्णुरापोऽग्निरेव च। मयाभिपन्ना ऋध्यन्ते ऋषयो देवतास्तथा ॥१३-८१-७॥
Indra, Vivasvat, Soma, Viṣṇu, the Waters, and Agni — all, when possessed by me, as well as sages and deities, thus prosper. (13-81-7)
यांश्च द्विषाम्यहं गावस्ते विनश्यन्ति सर्वशः। धर्मार्थकामहीनाश्च ते भवन्त्यसुखान्विताः ॥१३-८१-८॥
Those whom I hate—their cows perish completely, and they are deprived of virtue, wealth, and pleasure, becoming afflicted with misfortune. (13-81-8)
एवम्प्रभावां मां गावो विजानीत सुखप्रदाम्। इच्छामि चापि युष्मासु वस्तुं सर्वासु नित्यदा ॥ आगता प्रार्थयानाहं श्रीजुष्टा भवतानघाः ॥१३-८१-९॥
Cows should thus recognize me, their giver of happiness and power. I also wish to always dwell among all of you. Having come, I, endowed with prosperity, earnestly request to be with you, O sinless ones. (13-81-9)
गाव ऊचुः॥
The cows spoke.
अध्रुवां चञ्चलां च त्वां सामान्यां बहुभिः सह। न त्वामिच्छामि भद्रं ते गम्यतां यत्र रोचते ॥१३-८१-१०॥
You are unstable, fickle, and common, associating with many; I do not desire you. Farewell to you; go wherever it pleases you. (13-81-10)
वपुष्मन्त्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयाद्य वै। यत्रेष्टं गम्यतां तत्र कृतकार्या वयं त्वया ॥१३-८१-११॥
We, all possessing forms, what do we have to do with you today? Go wherever it is desired; we have fulfilled our work by you. (13-81-11)
श्रीरुवाच॥
Śrī said.
किमेतद्वः क्षमं गावो यन्मां नेहाभ्यनन्दथ। न मां सम्प्रति गृह्णीथ कस्माद्वै दुर्लभां सतीम् ॥१३-८१-१२॥
What is this fitting conduct by you, cows, that you did not welcome me here? Now you do not accept me; for what reason indeed, though I am rare (among women)? (13-81-12)
सत्यश्च लोकवादोऽयं लोके चरति सुव्रताः। स्वयं प्राप्ते परिभवो भवतीति विनिश्चयः ॥१३-८१-१३॥
O virtuous ones, it is certain that both truth and popular opinion circulate in the world; when dishonor comes on its own, this is the established fact. (13-81-13)
महदुग्रं तपः कृत्वा मां निषेवन्ति मानवाः। देवदानवगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगराक्षसाः ॥१३-८१-१४॥
Humans serve me by performing great and intense austerity; so do gods, demons, gandharvas, piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasas. (13-81-14)
क्षममेतद्धि वो गावः प्रतिगृह्णीत मामिह। नावमन्या ह्यहं सौम्यास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ॥१३-८१-१५॥
O cows, this is indeed forgivable by you; please accept me here. Do not despise me, O gentle ones, anywhere in the three worlds with all moving and unmoving beings. (13-81-15)
गाव ऊचुः॥
The cows said.
नावमन्यामहे देवि न त्वां परिभवामहे। अध्रुवा चलचित्तासि ततस्त्वां वर्जयामहे ॥१३-८१-१६॥
O goddess, we do not despise you nor do we insult you. But since you are unsteady and fickle-minded, therefore we abandon you. (13-81-16)
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन गम्यतां यत्र वाञ्छसि। वपुष्मत्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयानघे ॥१३-८१-१७॥
Why say much here? Go wherever you desire. We all, beautiful-bodied ones—what have we to do with you, O sinless one? (13-81-17)
श्रीरुवाच॥
The revered one said.
अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि सर्वलोकेषु मानदाः। प्रत्याख्यानेन युष्माभिः प्रसादः क्रियतामिति ॥१३-८१-१८॥
O bestowers of honor, I shall be disregarded in all worlds; therefore, by your rejection, let this favor be granted. (13-81-18)
महाभागा भवत्यो वै शरण्याः शरणागताम्। परित्रायन्तु मां नित्यं भजमानामनिन्दिताम् ॥ माननां त्वहमिच्छामि भवत्यः सततं शुभाः ॥१३-८१-१९॥
O greatly fortunate ladies, you are indeed worthy of refuge. Please always protect me, who is blameless and devoted to worship. But, auspicious ladies, I desire honor from you at all times. (13-81-19)
अप्येकाङ्गे तु वो वस्तुमिच्छामि च सुकुत्सिते। न वोऽस्ति कुत्सितं किञ्चिदङ्गेष्वालक्ष्यतेऽनघाः ॥१३-८१-२०॥
Even in a single limb, I wish to find among you something truly blameworthy; yet there is nothing blameworthy at all perceived in any of your limbs, O sinless ones. (13-81-20)
पुण्याः पवित्राः सुभगा ममादेशं प्रयच्छत। वसेयं यत्र चाङ्गेऽहं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हथ ॥१३-८१-२१॥
O holy, pure, and fortunate ones, grant my command. Please explain to me where I may reside, and in which limb I may dwell. (13-81-21)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
एवमुक्तास्तु ता गावः शुभाः करुणवत्सलाः। संमन्त्र्य सहिताः सर्वाः श्रियमूचुर्नराधिप ॥१३-८१-२२॥
But thus addressed, those auspicious, compassionate, and affectionate cows, having all consulted together, said to Śrī (prosperity), O king. (13-81-22)
अवश्यं मानना कार्या तवास्माभिर्यशस्विनि। शकृन्मूत्रे निवस नः पुण्यमेतद्धि नः शुभे ॥१३-८१-२३॥
We certainly must honor you, O illustrious lady. Dwell in excrement and urine; for us, O auspicious one, this is indeed merit. (13-81-23)
श्रीरुवाच॥
The Auspicious One spoke.
दिष्ट्या प्रसादो युष्माभिः कृतो मेऽनुग्रहात्मकः। एवं भवतु भद्रं वः पूजितास्मि सुखप्रदाः ॥१३-८१-२४॥
By good fortune, you have shown me favor, which is full of kindness. So may it be, may welfare be yours; I have been honored by you, who grant happiness. (13-81-24)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
एवं कृत्वा तु समयं श्रीर्गोभिः सह भारत। पश्यन्तीनां ततस्तासां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥१३-८१-२५॥
Thus, after making the agreement, Śrī, together with the cows, O Bhārata, in the sight of those women, then and there disappeared. (13-81-25)
एतद्गोशकृतः पुत्र माहात्म्यं तेऽनुवर्णितम्। माहात्म्यं च गवां भूयः श्रूयतां गदतो मम ॥१३-८१-२६॥
O son, this greatness of the cow-sacrifice has been described to you. Now, listen further to the greatness of cows as spoken by me. (13-81-26)
