युधिष्ठिर उवाच उक्तं ते गोप्रदानं वै नाचिकेतमृषि प्रति। माहात्म्यमपि चैवोक्तमुद्देशेन गवां प्रभो॥
Yudhishthira said You have O grandfather, describe to me the topic of gifts of kine in speaking of the Rishi Nachiketa You have also, related O powerful one, the efficacy and preeminence of that act.
नृगेण च महदुःखमनुभूतं महात्मना। एकापराधदज्ञानात् पितामह महामते॥
You have also told me O grandfather, of great intelligence, the exceedingly painful character of the misfortune that befell the great king Nriga on account of a single transgression of his.
द्वारवत्यां यथा चासौ निविशन्त्यां समुद्धतः। मोक्षहेतुरभूत् कृष्णस्तदप्यवधृतं मया।॥
He had to live for a long time at Dvaravati (in the form of a mighty lizard) and how Krishna became the instrument of his rescue from that miserable condition.
किं त्वस्ति मम संदेहो गवां लोकं प्रति प्रभो। तत्त्वतः श्रोतुमिच्छामि गोदा यत्र वसन्त्युत॥
I have, however one doubt. About the regions of kine. I wish to hear particularly about those regions which are reserved for the residence of persons who make gifts of kine.
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। यथापृच्छत् पद्मयोनिमेतदेव शतक्रतुः॥
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between him who sprang from the primeval lotus and him who performed a hundred sacrifices.
शक्र उवाच स्वर्लोकवासिनां लक्ष्मीमभिभूय स्वयार्चिषा। गोलोकवासिनः पश्ये व्रजतः संशयोऽत्र मे॥
Shakra said I see, O grandfather, that those who live in the region of kine transcend by their effulgence the prosperity of the celestial dwellers and pass them by. This has created a doubt in my mind.
कीदृशा भगवॅल्लोका गवां तद् ब्रूहि मेऽनघ। यानावसन्ति दातार एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्॥
Of what kind, O holy one, are the regions of kine? Tell me all about them, O sinless one. Indeed, what is the nature of those regions that are inhabited by givers of kine? I wish to know this.
कीदृशाः किंफलाः किंस्वित् परमस्तत्र को गुणः। कथं च पुरुषास्तत्र गच्छन्ति विगतज्वराः॥
Of what kind are those regions? What fruits do they yield? What is the highest object there which the inhabitants thereof succeed in acquiring? What are its virtues. How also do men, shorn of anxiety, succeed in going to those regions?
कियत्कालं प्रदानस्य दाता च फलमश्नुते। कथं बहुविधं दानं स्यादल्पमपि वा कथम्॥
For what period does the giver of a cow enjoy the fruits of his gift? How may persons make gifts of many kine and how may they make gifts of a few kine?
बह्वीनां कीदृशं दानमल्पानां वापि कीदृशम्। अदत्त्वा गोप्रदाः सन्ति केन वा तच्च शंस मे॥
What are the merits of the gifts of many kine and what those of the gifts of a few only. How also do persons become givers of kine without really giving any kine? Do you tell me all this.
कथं वा बहुदाता स्यादल्पदात्रा समः प्रभो। अल्पप्रदाता बहुदः कथं स्वित् स्यादिहेश्वर॥
How does one making gifts of even many kine, O powerful lord, become the equal of one who has made gifts of only a few kine? How also does one who has made gifts of only few kine equal one who has made gifts of many kine?
कीदृशी दक्षिणा चैव गोप्रदाने विशिष्यते। एतत् तथ्येन भगवन् मम शंसितुमर्हसि॥
What kind of present is considered and distinguished for preeminence in the matter of gifts of kine? You should, O holy one, describe to me all this according to truth.