13.082
golokapraśnaḥ
The question about Goloka.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said;
ye ca gāḥ samprayacchanti hutashiṣṭāśinaś ca ye। teṣāṃ satrāṇi yajñāś ca nityam eva yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-82-1॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those who give cows and those who eat the remnants of the offerings—their sacrificial sessions and sacrifices are ever indeed ongoing. (13-82-1)
ṛte dadhighṛtena iha na yajñaḥ sampravartate. tena yajñasya yajñatvam atomūlaṃ ca lakṣyate ॥13-82-2॥
A sacrifice does not take place here without curds and ghee. Therefore, the essential character of a sacrifice—and its root—is thus recognized. (13-82-2)
dānānām api sarveṣāṃ gavāṃ dānaṃ praśasyate। gāvaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ pavitrāś ca pāvanaṃ hy etad uttamam ॥13-82-3॥
Among all gifts, the gift of cows is praised. Cows are excellent and pure, and this gifting is indeed the most purifying and the best. (13-82-3)
puṣṭyarthametāḥ seveta śāntyartham api caiva ha। payo dadhi ghṛtaṃ yāsāṃ sarvapāpa-pramocanam ॥13-82-4॥
One should use these (milk, curds, and ghee) for nourishment and also for achieving peace, for these offer liberation from all sins. (13-82-4)
gāvas tejaḥ paraṃ proktam iha loke paratra ca। na gobhyaḥ paramaṃ kiñcit pavitraṃ puruṣarṣabha ॥13-82-5॥
Cows are declared to be the supreme brilliance here in this world and in the next; O best among men, there is nothing purer or greater than cows. (13-82-5)
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। pitāmahasya saṃvādam indrasya ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-82-6॥
Here too, O Yudhishthira, they recite this ancient legend, the conversation between Pitaamaha and Indra. (13-82-6)
parābhūteṣu daityeṣu śakre tribhuvaneśvare | prajāḥ samuditāḥ sarvāḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇāḥ ॥13-82-7॥
When the Daityas were defeated and Indra, lord of the three worlds, reigned, all the people came together, and all were devoted to truth and righteousness. (13-82-7)
atharṣayaḥ sagandharvāḥ kiṃnaroragarākṣasāḥ। devāsurasuparṇāśca prajānāṃ patayastathā॥ paryupāsanta kauravya kadācidvai pitāmaham॥13-82-8॥
Now, O Kauravya, sages along with Gandharvas, Kinnaras, serpents, Rākṣasas, gods, asuras, Suparṇas, and the lords of beings likewise, once indeed all worshipped the grandsire. (13-82-8)
nāradaḥ parvataś caiva viśvāvasuhahāhuhū। divyatāneṣu gāyantaḥ paryupāsanta taṃ prabhum ॥13-82-9॥
Nārada, Parvata, and also Viśvāvasu, Haha, and Hūhū, sang in celestial melodies and attended upon him, the Lord. (13-82-9)
tatra divyāni puṣpāṇi prāvahat pavanastathā। ājahrur ṛtavaś cāpi sugandhīni pṛthak pṛthak ॥13-82-10॥
There, the wind likewise carried divine flowers. The seasons also brought fragrant flowers, each separately. (13-82-10)
tasmin deva-samāvāye sarva-bhūta-samāgame | divya-vāditra-saṅghuṣṭe divya-strī-cāraṇā-vṛte || indraḥ papraccha deva-īśam abhivādya praṇamya ca ||13-82-11||
In that assembly of the gods, when all beings had gathered, and as celestial instruments sounded and the company was surrounded by divine women and bards, Indra respectfully bowed and asked the lord of the gods. (13-82-11)
devānāṃ bhagavan kasmāl lokeśānāṃ pitāmaha। upariṣṭād gavāṃ loka etad icchāmi veditum ॥13-82-12॥
O grandfather of the lords of the worlds, O revered one, why is there a world above that of the cows belonging to the gods? I wish to know this. (13-82-12)
kiṁ tapo brahmacaryaṁ vā gobhiḥ kṛtam iheśvara। devānām upariṣṭād yad vasanti arajasaḥ sukham ॥13-82-13॥
O lord, is the happiness dwelling above the gods, which is free from impurity, attained here by austerity, by celibacy, or by actions performed with cows? (13-82-13)
tataḥ provāca taṃ brahmā śakraṃ balanisūdanam। avajñātāstvayā nityaṃ gāvo balanisūdana ॥13-82-14॥
Then Brahmā said to Śakra, the destroyer of force: "Cows have always been disregarded by you, O destroyer of force." (13-82-14)
tena tvam āsāṃ māhātmyaṃ na vettha śṛṇu tat prabho। gavāṃ prabhāvaṃ paramaṃ māhātmyaṃ ca surarṣabha॥13-82-15॥
Because of that, you do not know the greatness of these; listen, O lord, to the supreme influence and greatness of the cows, O bull among the gods. (13-82-15)
yajñāṅgaṃ kathitā gāvo yajña eva ca vāsava। etābhiścāpyṛte yajño na pravartetakathaṃcana ॥13-82-16॥
O Indra, cows are called a limb of sacrifice and, indeed, are the sacrifice itself; without them, a sacrifice could not take place in any way. (13-82-16)
dhārayanti prajāś caiva payasā haviṣā tathā। etāsāṃ tanayāś cāpi kṛṣiyogam upāsate ॥13-82-17॥
Creatures are supported indeed by milk and by offerings as well; and the sons of these also undertake the activity of farming. (13-82-17)
janayanti ca dhānyāni bījāni vividhāni ca। tato yajñāḥ pravartante havyaṁ kavyaṁ ca sarvaśaḥ ॥13-82-18॥
They generate grains and various seeds; from those, sacrifices arise—oblation and ancestor offerings in all manner. (13-82-18)
payo dadhi ghṛtaṃ caiva puṇyāś caitāḥ surādhipa। vahanti vividhān bhārān kṣut-tṛṣṇā-paripīḍitāḥ ॥13-82-19॥
O lord of the gods, these virtuous ones who produce milk, curd, and clarified butter, bear many burdens, being afflicted by hunger and thirst. (13-82-19)
munīṁś ca dhārayantīha prajāś caiva api karmaṇā। vāsavā-kūṭa-vāhinyaḥ karmaṇā sukṛtena ca ॥ upariṣṭāt tato'smākaṁ vasanty etāḥ sadaiva hi ॥13-82-20॥
Here, sages and also the subjects are supported by action; those who bear the peaks of Indra (are supported) by action and good deeds; above us from there, these always indeed dwell. (13-82-20)
etat te kāraṇaṁ śakra nivāsakṛtam adya vai। gavāṁ deva-upariṣṭāt hi samākhyātaṁ śatakrato ॥13-82-21॥
This, O Śakra, is the reason today for your dwelling being established here. O Śatakratu, it is indeed said that the place of the cows is higher than the gods. (13-82-21)
etā hi varadattāś ca varadāś caiva vāsava। saurabhyaḥ puṇyakarmiṇyaḥ pāvanāḥ śubhalakṣaṇāḥ ॥13-82-22॥
O Indra, these indeed are both endowed with boons and bestow boons; they are fragrant, performers of virtuous deeds, pure, and possess auspicious characteristics. (13-82-22)
yad-artham gā gatāś caiva saurabhyaḥ surasattama। tac ca me śṛṇu kārtsnyena vadato balasūdana॥13-82-23॥
O best of the gods, hear from me completely the purpose for which the cows and Saurabhya have gone, O destroyer of Bala. (13-82-23)
purā devayuge tāta daityendreṣu mahātmasu. trīṃllokānanuśāsatsu viṣṇau garbhatvamāgate ॥13-82-24॥
Long ago, in the age of the gods, O dear one, when the great-souled Daitya lords were ruling the three worlds, Viṣṇu entered the state of being in the womb. (13-82-24)
adityāstapyamānāyāstapo ghoraṃ suduścaram. putrārtham amaraśreṣṭha pādenaikena nityadā ॥13-82-25॥
O best of immortals, the Ādityās, for the sake of a son, always performed terrible austerities, very hard to undertake, standing on one foot for her who was being tormented. (13-82-25)
tāṃ tu dṛṣṭvā mahādevīṃ tapyamānāṃ mahattapaḥ। dakṣasya duhitā devī surabhirnāma nāmataḥ ॥13-82-26॥
But having seen her, the great goddess performing great austerity, the goddess Surabhi, the daughter of Dakṣa, by name, thus (was present). (13-82-26)
atapyata tapo ghoraṁ hṛṣṭā dharmaparāyaṇā। kailāśaśikhare ramye devagandharvasevite ॥13-82-27॥
She, joyful and devoted to dharma, performed severe austerities on the beautiful peak of Kailāsa, which is attended by gods and gandharvas. (13-82-27)
vyatiṣṭhad ekapādena paramaṃ yogam āsthitā। daśa varṣasahasrāṇi daśa varṣaśatāni ca ॥13-82-28॥
Standing on one foot, she remained established in supreme concentration for ten thousand and one thousand years. (13-82-28)
santaptās tapasā tasyā devāḥ saṛṣimahoragāḥ। tatra gatvā mayā sārdhaṃ paryupāsanta tāṃ śubhām ॥13-82-29॥
Burned by her austerity, the gods, along with sages and great serpents, went there with me and devotedly served that auspicious lady. (13-82-29)
athāham abruvaṃ tatra devīṃ tāṃ tapasānvitām। kimarthaṃ tapyate devi tapo ghoram anindite ॥13-82-30॥
Then I said there to the goddess, who was endowed with austerity: "For what reason are you performing this intense austerity, O goddess, O blameless one?" (13-82-30)
prītas te'haṁ mahābhāge tapasānena śobhane। varayasva varaṁ devi dātāsmīti puraṁdara ॥13-82-31॥
O greatly fortunate and beautiful one, I am pleased with you because of this penance. O goddess, choose a boon; I, Purandara, am the giver thus. (13-82-31)
surabhyuvāca॥
Surabhi said.
vareṇa bhagavan mahyaṃ kṛtaṃ lokapitāmaha। eṣa eva varo me'dya yat prīto'si mama anagha ॥13-82-32॥
O Lord, O grandsire of the worlds, by granting me the boon, you have fulfilled my desire. This alone is my boon today: that you are pleased with me, O sinless one. (13-82-32)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
tām evaṃ bruvatīṃ devīṃ surabhīṃ tridaśeśvara. pratyabruvaṃ yad deve ndra tan nibodha śacīpate ॥13-82-33॥
O Indra, lord of the gods, listen to what I replied to the goddess Surabhi when she spoke thus, O lord of Śacī. (13-82-33)
alobhakāmyayā devi tapasā ca śubhena te। prasanno'haṃ varaṃ tasmādamaratvaṃ dadāni te॥13-82-34॥
O goddess, because of your freedom from greed and your auspicious austerity, I am pleased; therefore, I grant you the boon of immortality. (13-82-34)
trayāṇām api lokānām upariṣṭāt nivatsyasi। matprasādāc ca vikhyāto golokaḥ sa bhaviṣyati॥13-82-35॥
You will reside above the three worlds, and by my favor, that Goloka will become well-known. (13-82-35)
mānuṣeṣu ca kurvāṇāḥ prajāḥ karma sutāstava। nivatsyanti mahābhāge sarvā duhitaraśca te ॥13-82-36॥
O greatly fortunate one, among men, your sons performing actions and all your daughters also will live (there). (13-82-36)
manasā cintitā bhogās tvayā vai divyamānuṣāḥ। yacc svargasukhaṃ devi tat te sampatsyate śubhe॥13-82-37॥
The enjoyments, both divine and human, that you have thought of in your mind, and any heavenly happiness, O goddess, all that shall come to you, O auspicious one. (13-82-37)
tasyā lokāḥ sahasrākṣa sarvakāmasamanvitāḥ। na tatra kramate mṛtyur na jarā na ca pāvakaḥ ॥ na dainyaṃ nāśubhaṃ kiñcid vidyate tatra vāsava ॥13-82-38॥
O Indra, the worlds belonging to her are endowed with all desires. There, O thousand-eyed one, neither death, nor old age, nor fire exist. Nor is there any misery or anything inauspicious, O Vāsava. (13-82-38)
tatra divyāny araṇyāni divyāni bhavanāni ca. vimānāni ca yuktāni kāmagāni ca vāsava ॥13-82-39॥
There, O Indra, are divine forests, divine dwellings, and aerial vehicles that are equipped and move at will. (13-82-39)
vrataiś ca vividhaiḥ puṇyaiḥ tathā tīrthānusevanāt। tapasā mahatā caiva sukṛtena ca karmaṇā ॥ śakyaḥ samāsādayituṃ golokaḥ puṣkarekṣaṇa ॥13-82-40॥
O lotus-eyed, Goloka can be attained by vows, various meritorious acts, resorting to holy places, great austerity, good deeds, and actions. (13-82-40)
etat te sarvam ākhyātaṁ mayā śakra anupṛcchate। na te paribhavaḥ kāryaḥ gavāmari-ni-sūdana ॥13-82-41॥
All this has been told to you by me upon your asking, O Śakra. You should not commit any disrespect, O destroyer of the enemies of cows. (13-82-41)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
etat śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ pūjayām āsa nityadā। gāḥ cakre bahumānaṃ ca tāsu nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-82-42॥
Upon hearing this, Indra, the thousand-eyed, always began to worship; he constantly honored the cows among them, O Yudhishthira. (13-82-42)
etat te sarvam ākhyātaṃ pāvanaṃ ca mahādyute। pavitraṃ paramaṃ cāpi gavāṃ māhātmyam uttamam॥ kīrtitaṃ puruṣavyāghra sarvapāpavināśanam॥13-82-43॥
O greatly resplendent one, all this has been declared to you—purifying, holy, and supremely excellent—the highest greatness of cows, which has been renowned as the destroyer of all sins, O tiger among men. (13-82-43)
ya idaṃ kathayen nityaṃ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samāhitaḥ। havyakavyeṣu yajñeṣu pitṛkāryeṣu caiva ha॥ sārvakāmikam akṣayyaṃ pitṝṃs tasyopatiṣṭhati॥ 13-82-44॥
Whoever always attentively recites this to Brāhmaṇas—at offerings to gods and ancestors, in sacrifices, and in ancestral rites—attains for his ancestors imperishable and all-desire-fulfilling results. (13-82-44)
goṣu bhaktaś ca labhate yady ad icchati mānavaḥ। striyo'pi bhaktā yā goṣu tāś ca kāmān avāpnuyuḥ॥13-82-45॥
Whoever is devoted to cows obtains whatever desires a human being may have. Likewise, women devoted to cows also attain their wishes. (13-82-45)
putrārthī labhate putraṃ kanyā patim-avāpnuyāt। dhanārthī labhate vittaṃ dharmārthī dharmam-āpnuyāt॥13-82-46॥
He who desires a son obtains a son; a maiden attains a husband; he who seeks wealth gains wealth; and he who seeks righteousness attains righteousness. (13-82-46)
vidyārthī prāpnuyād vidyāṃ sukhārthī prāpnuyāt sukham। na kiñcid durlabhaṃ caiva gavāṃ bhaktasya bhārata ॥13-82-47॥
He who seeks knowledge attains it; he who seeks happiness attains happiness; indeed, O Bhārata, nothing is difficult to obtain for a devotee of cows. (13-82-47)
