युधिष्ठिर उवाच पवित्राणां पवित्रं यच्छिष्टं लोके च यद् भवेत्। पावनं परमं चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, what is that which is the most sacred of all sacred things in the world, other than that which has been already mentioned, and which is the greatest of all purifying objects.
भीष्म उवाच गावो महार्थाः पुण्याश्च तारयन्ति च मानवान्। धारयन्ति प्रजाश्चमा हविषा पयसा तथा॥
Bhishma said Kine are the foremost of all objects. They are highly sacred and they save men. With their milk and with the Havi manufactured therefrom, kine sustain all creatures in the universe.
न हि पुण्यतमं किंचिद् गोभ्यो भरतसत्तम। एताः पुण्याः पवित्राश्च त्रिषु लोकेषु सत्तमाः॥
O best of the Bharatas, there is nothing that is more sacred than kine. The highest of all things in the three worlds, kine are themselves sacred and capable of purifying others.
देवानामुपरिष्टाच्च गावः प्रतिवसन्ति वै। दत्त्वा चैतास्तारयन्ते यान्ति स्वर्ग मनीषिणः॥
Kine live in a region that is even greater than the region of the celestials. When given away, they save their givers. Wise men succeed in acquiring the celestial region by making gifts of kine.
मान्धाता यौवनावश्च ययातिनहुषस्तथा। गा वै ददन्तः सततं सहस्रशतसम्मिताः॥
Yuvanashvas son Mandhatri, Yayati, and Nahusha, used always to give away kine in thousands.
गताः परमकं स्थानं देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम्। अपि चात्र पुरागीतां कथयिष्यामि तेऽनघ॥
As thc reward of those gifts, they have acquired such regions as are unattainable by the very celestials. There is, about it, O sinless one, a discourse delivered of yore. I shall recite it to you.
ऋषीणामुत्तमं धीमान् कृष्णद्वैपायनं शुकः। अभिवाद्याह्निककृतः शुचिः प्रयतमानसः॥ पितरं परिपप्रच्छ दृष्टलोकपरावरम्। को यज्ञः सर्वयज्ञानां वरिष्ठोऽभ्युपलक्ष्यते॥
Once on a time, having finished his morning rites, the intelligent Shuka approached with a controlled mind his father, that foremost of Rishis, viz., the Island-born Krishna, who knows the distinction between the superior and the inferior, and saluting him, said, What is that sacrifice which appears to you as the foremost of all sacrifices?
किं च कृत्वा परं स्थानं प्राप्नुवन्ति मनीषिणः। केन देवाः पवित्रेण स्वर्गमश्नन्ति वा विभो॥
What is that act by doing which wise men succeed in acquiring the highest region? What is that sacred deed by which the celestials enjoy divine happiness?
किं च यज्ञस्य यज्ञत्वं क्व च यज्ञः प्रतिष्ठितः। देवानामुत्तमं किं च किं च सत्रमितः परम्॥ पवित्राणां पवित्रं च यत् तद् ब्रूहि पितर्मम।
What forms the character of sacrifice as sacrifice? What is that upon which sacrifice rests? What is that which is considered as the best by the deities? What is that sacrifice which is above the sacrifices of this world? Do you also tell me, O father what is that which is the most sacred of all things.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं व्यासः परमधर्मवित्। पुत्रायाकथयत् सर्वं तत्त्वेन भरतर्षभ॥
Having heard these words of his son, O chief of Bharata's race, Vyasa, the foremost of all persons knowing duties, said as follows to him.
व्यास उवाच गावः प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां तथा गावः परायणम्। गाव: पुण्याः पवित्राश्च गोधनं पावनं तथा॥
Vyasa said Kine form the support of all creatures. Kine are the refuge of all creatures. Kine are the embodiment of virtue. Kine are sacred, and kine purifiers of all.
पूर्वमासन्नशृङ्गा वै गाव इत्यनुशुश्रुमा शृङ्गार्थे समुपासन्त ताः किल प्रभुमव्ययम्॥
Formerly kine were hornless as we have heard. For getting horns they adored the eternal and powerful Brahman.
ततो ब्रह्मा तु गाः प्रायमुपविष्टाः समीक्ष्य ह। ईप्सितं प्रददौ ताभ्यो गोभ्यः प्रत्येकशः प्रभुः॥
Seeing the kine paying their adorations to him and sitting without food, the powerful Brahman granted to each of them what each desired.
तासां शृङ्गाण्यजायन्त यस्या यादृङ्मनोगतम्। नानावर्णाः शृङ्गरान्त्यस्ता व्यरोचन्त पुत्रक॥
Thereafter their horns grew and each got what each wished. Of various colours, and gifted with horns, they began to shine beautifully, O son!
ब्रह्मणा वरदत्तास्ता हव्यकव्यप्रदाः शुभाः। पुण्याः पवित्राः सुभगा दिव्यसंस्थानलक्षणाः॥
Favoured by Brahman himself with boons, kine are auspicious and givers of Havya and Kavya. They are the embodiments of virtue. They are sacred and highly blessed. They have excellent form and qualities.
गावस्तेजो महद् दिव्यं गवां दानं प्रशस्यते। ये चैताः सम्प्रयच्छन्ति साधवो वीतमत्सराः॥ ते वै सुकृतिनः प्रोक्ताः सर्वदानप्रदाश्च ते। गवां लोकं तथा पुण्यमाप्नुवन्ति च तेऽनघ॥
Kine form high and excellent energy. The gift of kine is highly spoken of. Those good men who, shorn or pride, make gifts of kine, are considered as doers of righteous deeds and as givers of all articles. Such men, O sinless one, acquire the highly sacred region of kine.
यत्र वृक्षा मधुफला दिव्यपुष्पफलोपगाः। पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि दिव्यानि द्विजसत्तम॥
The trees there yield sweet fruits. Indeed, those trees are always bedecked with excellent flowers and fruits. Those flowers, O best of twiceborn persons, have celestial fragrance.
सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सर्वकाञ्चनवालुकाः। सर्वर्तुसुखसंस्पर्शा निष्पङ्का नीरजाः शुभा॥
The entire soil of that region is formed of gems. The sands there are all gold. The climate there possesses the excellencies of every season. There is no mire, no dust. It is, indeed, highly sacred.
रक्तोत्पलवनैश्चैव मणिखण्डैर्हिरण्मगैः। तरुणादित्यसंकाशैर्भान्ति तत्र जलाशयाः॥
The rivers there shine in resplendence for the red lotuses blossoming upon their bosoms, and for the jewels, gems and gold that are on their banks and which display the effulgence of the morning Sun
महार्हमणिपत्रैश्च काञ्चनप्रभकेसरैः। नीलोत्पलविमित्रैश्च सरोभिर्बहुपङ्कजैः॥
There are many lakes also on whose breasts are many lotuses, mixed here and there with Nymphoea stellata, and having their petals made of costly gems, and their filaments goldhued.
करवीरवनैः फुल्लैः सहस्रावर्तसंवृतैः। संतानकवनैः फुल्लैर्वृक्षैश्च समलंकृताः॥
They are also bedecked with flowering forests of the Nerium odorum with thousands of beautiful creepers twining round them, as also with forests of Santanakas bearing flowers.
निर्मलाभिश्च मुक्ताभिर्मणिभिश्च महाप्रभैः। उद्भूतपुलिनास्तत्र जातरूपैश्च निम्नगाः॥
There are rivers whose banks are variegated with many bright pearls and shining gems and gold.
सर्वरत्नमयैश्चित्रैरवगाढा दुमोत्तमैः। जातरूपमयैश्चान्यैर्हताशनसमप्रभैः॥
Parts of those regions are covered with excellent trees that are decked with jewels and gems of every sort. Some of them are made of gold and some of them are effulgent like fire.
सौवर्णा गिरयस्तत्र मणिरत्नशिलोच्चयाः। सर्वरत्नमयैर्भान्ति शृङ्गैश्चारुभिरुच्छ्रितैः॥
There stand many mountains made of gold, and many hills made of jewels and gems. These shine in beauty on account of their tall summits made of all sorts of gems.
नित्यपुष्पफलास्तत्र नगाः पत्ररथाकुलाः। दिव्यगन्धरसैः पुष्पैः फलैश्च भरतर्षभ॥
The trees that bedeck those regions always put forth flowers and fruits, and are always covered with dense foliage. The flowers always yield a celestial fragrance and the fruits are greatly sweet, О chief of Bharata's race.
रमन्ते पुण्यकर्माणस्तत्र नित्यं युधिष्ठिर। सर्वकामसमृद्धार्था निःशोका गतमन्यवः॥
The righteous persons, O Yudhishthira, always sport there happily. Freed from grief and anger, they spend their time there, crowned with the fruition of every desire.
विमानेषु विचित्रेषु रमणीयेषु भारत। मोदन्ते पुण्यकर्माणो विहरन्तो यशस्विनः॥
Pious and illustrious persons sport there happily, moving from place to place, O Bharata, on delightful and highly beautiful cars.
बलवान् बली। उपक्रीडन्ति तान् राजन्शुभाश्चाप्सरसां गणाः। एताल्लोकानवाप्नोति गां दत्त्वा वै युधिष्ठिर॥
Bevies of celestial nymphs always amuse there, with music and dance. Indeed, Yudhishthira, a person goes to such regions as the fruit of his making gifts of kine.
येषामधिपतिः पूषा मारुतो ऐश्वर्ये वरुणो राजा नाममात्रं युगन्धरः॥ सुरूपा बहुरूपाश्च विश्वरूपाश्च मातरः। प्रजापत्यमिति ब्रह्मन् जपेन्नित्यं यतव्रतः॥
Those regions which are owned by Pushan, and the Maruts of great power, are acquired by givers of kine. In riches the royal Varuna is considered as preeminent. The giver of kine acquires riches like that of Varuna himself. One should, with the steadiness of a vow, daily recite these Mantras sung by Prajapati himself, vizYugandharah, Surupali, Bahurupah, Vishvarupah, and Matara.
गाश्च शुक्षूषते यश्च समन्वेति च सर्वशः। तस्मै तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति वरानपि सुदुर्लभान्॥
He who serves kine with respect and who follows them with humility, succeeds in getting many invaluable boons from kine who become pleased with him.
दुह्येन मनसा वापि गोषु नित्यं सुखप्रदः। अर्चयेत सदा चैव नमस्कारैश्च पूजयेत्॥
One should never, even in his heart, injure, kine. One should indeed, always confer happiness on them. One should always respect kine and adore them, by bending low his head.
दान्तः प्रीतमना नित्यं गवां व्युष्टिं तथाश्नुते। त्र्यहमुष्णं पिबेन्मूत्रं त्र्यहमुष्णं पिबेत् पयः॥
He who does this, controlling his senses all the while and filled with cheerfulness, succeeds in acquiring that happiness which is enjoyed by kine. One should for three day drink the hot urine of the cow. For the next three days one should drink the hot milk of the cow.
गवामुष्णं पयः पीत्वा त्र्यहमुष्णं घृतं पिबेत्। त्र्यहमुष्णं घृतं पीत्वा वायुभक्षो भवेत् व्यहम्॥
Having thus drunk for three days hot milk, one should next drink hot clarified butter for three days. Having thus drunk hot clarified butter for three days, one should live for the next three days on air only.
येन देवाः पवित्रेण भुञ्जते लोकमुत्तमम्। यत् पवित्रं पवित्राणां तद् घृतं शिरसा वहेत्॥
Thatsacred thing by whose help the celestials enjoy regions of happiness, that which is most sacred of all sacred things, viz., clarified butter, should then be carried on the head.
घृतेन जुहुयादग्निं घृतेन स्वस्ति वाचयेत्। घृतं प्राशेद् घृतं दद्याद् गवां पुष्टिं तथाश्नुते॥
With the help of clarified butter, one should pour libations on the sacred fire. By making gifts of clarified butter, one should make the Brahmanas utter benedictions on oneself. One should eat clarified butter and make gifts of clarified butter. As the reward of this conduct, one may then acquire that prosperity, which belongs to kine.
निर्हतैश्च यवैर्गोभिर्मासं प्रश्रितयावकः। ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं सर्वमेतेन शुध्यते॥
That man who, for a month, lives upon the gruel of barley picked up every day from cowdung, becomes purged of sins as heinous as Brahmanicide.
पराभवाच्च दैत्यानां देवैः शौचमिदं कृतम्। ते देवत्वमपि प्राप्ताः संसिद्धाश्च महाबलाः॥
After their defeat at the hands of the demons, the deities practised this expiation, It was on account of this expiation that they succeeded in regaining their position as celestials. Indeed, it was through this that they regained their strength and became successful.
गाव: पवित्राः पुण्याश्च पावनं परमं महत्। ताश्च दत्त्वा द्विजातिभ्यो नरः स्वर्गमुपाश्नुते॥
Kine are sacred. They are embodiments of virtue. They are high and most efficacious purifiers of all. By making gifts of kine to the Brahmanas one acquires the celestial region.
गवां मध्ये शुचिर्भूत्वा गोमती मनसा जपेत्। पूताभिरद्भिराचम्य शुचिर्भवति निर्मलः॥
Living in a pure state, in the midst of kine, one should mentally recite those sacred Mantras named Gomati, after touching pure water. By doing this, one becomes purified.
अग्निमध्ये गवां मध्ये ब्राह्मणानां च संसदि। विद्यादेवव्रतस्नाता ब्राह्मणाः पुण्यकर्मिणः॥ अध्यापयेरन्शिष्यान् वै गोमतों यज्ञसम्मिताम्। त्रिरात्रापोषितो भूत्वा गोमती लभते वरम्॥
Brahmanas of righteous deeds, who have been purified by knowledge, study of the Vedas, and observance of vows, should, only in the midst of sacred fires or kine or conclaves of Brahmanas, impart to their disciples a knowledge of the Gomati Mantras which are in every way like a sacrifice. One should observed a fast for three nights for receiving the boon formed by a knowledge of the meaning of the Gomati Mantras.
पुत्रकामश्च लभते पुत्रं धनमथापि वा। पतिकामा च भर्तारं सर्वकामांश्च मानवः॥
The man who wishes to get a son may cbtain it by worshipping these Mantras, He who wishes to acquire riches may have his desire fulfilled by worshipping these Mantras. The girl desirous of having a good husband may have her wish fulfilled by the same means. In fact, one may acquire the fruition of every desire he may cherish, by worshipping these sacred Mantras.
गावस्तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति सेविता वै न संशयः। एवमेता महाभागा यज्ञियाः सर्वकामदाः। रोहिण्य इति जानीहि नैताभ्यो विद्यते परम्॥
When kine are pleased with the service one renders them, they are, forsooth, capable of granting the fruition of every desire. Even so, kine are highly blessed. They are the essential articles of sacrifices. They are grantors of every wish. Know that there is nothing superior to kine.
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः स महातेजाः शुकः पित्रा महात्मना। पूजयामास गां नित्यं तस्मात् त्वमपि पूजय॥
Bhishma said Thus addressed by his great father, Shuka, gifted with great energy, began from that time to adore kine every day. Do you also, O son, act thus.