13.081
śrī-gosaṃvādaḥ
Dialogue of Śrī and the Cow.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said;
mayā gavāṃ purīṣaṃ vai śriyā juṣṭam iti śrutam. etad icchāmi ahaṃ śrotuṃ saṃśayaḥ atra hi me mahān ॥13-81-1॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam. gobhir nṛpeha saṃvādaṃ śriyā bharatasattama ॥13-81-2॥
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)
śrīḥ kṛtveha vapuḥ kāntaṃ gomadhyaṃ praviveśa ha। gāvo'tha vismitāstasya dṛṣṭvā rūpasya sampadam ॥13-81-3॥
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)
gāva ūcuḥ॥
The cows said.
kāsi devi kuto vā tvaṃ rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi। vismitāḥ sma mahābhāge tava rūpasya sampadā ॥13-81-4॥
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)
icchāmas tvāṃ vayaṃ jñātuṃ kā tvaṃ kva ca gamiṣyasi। tattvena ca suvarṇābhe sarvam etad bravīhi naḥ ॥13-81-5॥
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)
śrīr uvāca॥
The blessed one said.
lokakāntā'smi bhadraṃ vaḥ śrīr nāmneha pariśrutā। mayā daityāḥ parityaktā vinaṣṭāḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ ॥13-81-6॥
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)
indro vivasvānsomaś ca viṣṇur āpo'gnir eva ca। mayābhipannā ṛdhyante ṛṣayo devatās tathā ॥13-81-7॥
Indra, Vivasvat, Soma, Viṣṇu, the Waters, and Agni — all, when possessed by me, as well as sages and deities, thus prosper. (13-81-7)
yāṁś ca dviṣāmi ahaṁ gāvaḥ te vinaśyanti sarvaśaḥ। dharma-artha-kāma-hīnāś ca te bhavanti asukhānvitāḥ॥13-81-8॥
Those whom I hate—their cows perish completely, and they are deprived of virtue, wealth, and pleasure, becoming afflicted with misfortune. (13-81-8)
evam-prabhāvāṃ māṃ gāvo vijānīta sukhapradām। icchāmi cāpi yuṣmāsu vastuṃ sarvāsu nityadā ॥ āgatā prārthayānāhaṃ śrī-juṣṭā bhavatām-aghāḥ ॥13-81-9॥
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)
gāva ūcuḥ॥
The cows spoke.
adhruvāṃ cañcalāṃ ca tvāṃ sāmānyāṃ bahubhiḥ saha। na tvām icchāmi bhadraṃ te gamyatāṃ yatra rocate ॥13-81-10॥
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)
vapuṣmantyo vayaṃ sarvāḥ kim asmākaṃ tvayādya vai। yatreṣṭaṃ gamyatāṃ tatra kṛtakāryā vayaṃ tvayā ॥13-81-11॥
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)
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
kim etad vaḥ kṣamaṃ gāvaḥ yat māṃ na iha abhyanandatha। na māṃ samprati gṛhṇītha kasmāt vai durlabhāṃ satīm॥13-81-12॥
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)
satyaś ca lokavādo'yaṃ loke carati suvratāḥ। svayaṃ prāpte paribhavo bhavatīti viniścayaḥ ॥13-81-13॥
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)
mahad-ugraṃ tapaḥ kṛtvā māṃ niṣevanti mānavāḥ। deva-dānava-gandharvāḥ piśāca-uraga-rākṣasāḥ॥13-81-14॥
Humans serve me by performing great and intense austerity; so do gods, demons, gandharvas, piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasas. (13-81-14)
kṣamam etad dhi vo gāvaḥ pratigṛhṇīta mām iha। nāvam anyā hi ahaṃ saumyāḥ trailokye sacarācare॥13-81-15॥
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)
gāva ūcuḥ॥
The cows said.
nāvamanyāmahe devi na tvāṃ paribhavāmahe. adhrūvā calacittāsi tatastvāṃ varjayāmahe ॥13-81-16॥
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)
bahunātra kimuktena gamyatāṃ yatra vāñchasi। vapuṣmatyo vayaṃ sarvāḥ kimasmākaṃ tvayānaghe ॥13-81-17॥
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)
śrīruvāca॥
The revered one said.
avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi sarvalokeṣu mānadāḥ। pratyākhyānena yuṣmābhiḥ prasādaḥ kriyatāmiti ॥13-81-18॥
O bestowers of honor, I shall be disregarded in all worlds; therefore, by your rejection, let this favor be granted. (13-81-18)
mahābhāgā bhavatyo vai śaraṇyāḥ śaraṇāgatām। paritrāyantu māṃ nityaṃ bhajamānāmaninditām ॥ mānanāṃ tvahamicchāmi bhavatyaḥ satataṃ śubhāḥ ॥13-81-19॥
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)
apyekāṅge tu vo vastumicchāmi ca sukutsite। na vo'sti kutsitaṃ kiñcid aṅgeṣv ālakṣyate'naghāḥ ॥13-81-20॥
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)
puṇyāḥ pavitrāḥ subhagā mamādeśaṃ prayacchata। vaseyaṃ yatra cāṅge'haṃ tan me vyākhyātum arhatha ॥13-81-21॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said;
evamuktāstu tā gāvaḥ śubhāḥ karuṇavatsalāḥ। sanmantrya sahitāḥ sarvāḥ śriyam ūcur narādhipa ॥13-81-22॥
But thus addressed, those auspicious, compassionate, and affectionate cows, having all consulted together, said to Śrī (prosperity), O king. (13-81-22)
avaśyaṃ mānanā kāryā tavāsmābhir yaśasvini. śakṛnmūtre nivasa naḥ puṇyam etad dhi naḥ śubhe ॥13-81-23॥
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)
śrīr uvāca॥
The Auspicious One spoke.
diṣṭyā prasādo yuṣmābhiḥ kṛto me'nugrahātmakaḥ। evaṁ bhavatu bhadraṁ vaḥ pūjitāsmi sukhapradāḥ ॥13-81-24॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
evaṁ kṛtvā tu samayaṁ śrīr gobhiḥ saha bhārata। paśyantīnām tatas tāsām tatraiva antaradhīyata ॥13-81-25॥
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)
etad-gośa-kṛtaḥ putra māhātmyaṃ te'nuvarṇitam। māhātmyaṃ ca gavāṃ bhūyaḥ śrūyatāṃ gadato mama॥13-81-26॥
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)
