Critical Edition
ब्रह्मोवाच योऽयं प्रश्नस्त्वया पृष्टो गोप्रदानाधिकारवान् नास्य प्रष्टास्ति लोकेऽस्मिंस्त्वत्तोऽन्यो हि शतक्रतो
M. N. Dutt: The grandfather said The questions you have put to me about kine, beginning with their gift, are such that there is none else in the three world, O you of a hundred sacrifices, who could put them.
सन्ति नानाविधा लोका यांस्त्वं शक्र न पश्यसि पश्यामि यानहं लोकानेकपत्न्यश्च याः स्त्रियः
M. N. Dutt: There are many kinds of regions, O Shakra, which are invisible to even you. Those regions are seen by me. O Indra,, as also by those women who are chaste and who have been devoted to only one husband.
कर्मभिश्चापि सुशुभैः सुव्रता ऋषयस्तथा सशरीरा हि तान्यान्ति ब्राह्मणाः शुभवृत्तयः
M. N. Dutt: Rishis observe excellent vows, by means of their deeds of virtue and piety and Brahmanas of righteous souls, succeed in going there in even their human bodies.
शरीरन्यासमोक्षेण मनसा निर्मलेन च स्वप्नभूतांश्च ताँल्लोकान्पश्यन्तीहापि सुव्रताः
M. N. Dutt: Men who perform excellent vows see those regions which resemble the bright creations of dreams helped by their purified minds and by that (temporary) liberation which succeeds the loss of one's consciousness of body.
ते तु लोकाः सहस्राक्ष शृणु यादृग्गुणान्विताः न तत्र क्रमते कालो न जरा न च पापकम् तथान्यन्नाशुभं किंचिन्न व्याधिस्तत्र न क्लमः
M. N. Dutt: O you, of a thousand eyes, hear me as I tell you what the attributes are of those regions. There the very course of Time is stopped. Decrepitude is not there nor Fire which is omnipresent in the universe. There is slightest transgression does not take place, nor disease, nor weakness of any sort.
यद्यच्च गावो मनसा तस्मिन्वाञ्छन्ति वासव तत्सर्वं प्रापयन्ति स्म मम प्रत्यक्षदर्शनात् कामगाः कामचारिण्यः कामात्कामांश्च भुञ्जते
M. N. Dutt: The kine which live there, O Vasava, acquire the fruition of every desire which they cherish in their hearts. I have direct experience of what I say to you.
वाप्यः सरांसि सरितो विविधानि वनानि च गृहाणि पर्वताश्चैव यावद्द्रव्यं च किंचन
AI Translation: lakes, ponds, rivers, various forests, houses, mountains, and whatever material things there are,
मनोज्ञं सर्वभूतेभ्यः सर्वं तत्र प्रदृश्यते ईदृशान्विद्धि ताँल्लोकान्नास्ति लोकस्ततोऽधिकः
AI Translation: It is pleasing to all beings, and everything is seen there. Know that these are the kinds of worlds; there is no world higher than this.
तत्र सर्वसहाः क्षान्ता वत्सला गुरुवर्तिनः अहंकारैर्विरहिता यान्ति शक्र नरोत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: All those foremost of men, O Shakra, who are forgiving to all creatures, who endure everything, who are full of love for all things, who render dutiful obedience to their preceptors, and who are freed from pride and vanity, go to those regions of supreme happiness.
यः सर्वमांसानि न भक्षयीत; पुमान्सदा यावदन्ताय युक्तः मातापित्रोरर्चिता सत्ययुक्तः; शुश्रूषिता ब्राह्मणानामनिन्द्यः
AI Translation: One who does not eat all kinds of meat, who is always engaged in the practice of truth, Who worships his parents, who is devoted to truth, who serves the Brahmanas without reproach,
अक्रोधनो गोषु तथा द्विजेषु; धर्मे रतो गुरुशुश्रूषकश्च यावज्जीवं सत्यवृत्ते रतश्च; दाने रतो यः क्षमी चापराधे
AI Translation: One who is not angry towards cows and Brahmins, who is devoted to Dharma, who serves his elders, Who is devoted to truthfulness all his life, who is devoted to giving and is forgiving towards offenses,
मृदुर्दान्तो देवपरायणश्च; सर्वातिथिश्चापि तथा दयावान् ईदृग्गुणो मानवः संप्रयाति; लोकं गवां शाश्वतं चाव्ययं च
AI Translation: Gentle, disciplined, devoted to the gods, hospitable to all, and compassionate, Such a man goes to the eternal, imperishable world of the cows.
न पारदारी पश्यति लोकमेनं; न वै गुरुघ्नो न मृषाप्रलापी सदापवादी ब्राह्मणः शान्तवेदो; दोषैरन्यैर्यश्च युक्तो दुरात्मा
AI Translation: One who is a traitor, one who kills his guru, one who speaks falsely, one who is always abusive, a brahmin who is peaceful in his knowledge, and one who is evil-minded and associated with other faults.
न मित्रध्रुङ्नैकृतिकः कृतघ्नः; शठोऽनृजुर्धर्मविद्वेषकश्च न ब्रह्महा मनसापि प्रपश्ये;द्गवां लोकं पुण्यकृतां निवासम्
AI Translation: One who is not a friend, who is deceitful, ungrateful, deceitful, crooked, and who hates the Dharma, One who kills a brahmin, even in thought, should not see the world of cows, the abode of the virtuous.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं नैपुणेन सुरेश्वर गोप्रदानरतानां तु फलं शृणु शतक्रतो
M. N. Dutt: I have told you everything particularly about the regions of kine, O king of the celestials. Hear now, O you of a hundred sacrifices, the merit of persons who are engaged in making gifts of kine.
दायाद्यलब्धैरर्थैर्यो गाः क्रीत्वा संप्रयच्छति धर्मार्जितधनक्रीतान्स लोकानश्नुतेऽक्षयान्
M. N. Dutt: He who makes gifts of kine, after purchasing them with money obtained by inheritance or acquired by fair means, attains, as the fruit of such an act, to many regions of endless happiness.
यो वै द्यूते धनं जित्वा गाः क्रीत्वा संप्रयच्छति स दिव्यमयुतं शक्र वर्षाणां फलमश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: He who makes a gift of a cow, having acquired it with money, won at dice, enjoys happiness, O Shakra, for ten thousand celestial years.
दायाद्या यस्य वै गावो न्यायपूर्वैरुपार्जिताः प्रदत्तास्ताः प्रदातॄणां संभवन्त्यक्षया ध्रुवाः
M. N. Dutt: He who acquires a cow as his share of ancestral riches is said to acquire her legitimately. Such a cow may be given away. They who make gifts of kine so acquired, obtain innumerable endless regions of eternal happiness.
प्रतिगृह्य च यो दद्याद्गाः सुशुद्धेन चेतसा तस्यापीहाक्षयाँल्लोकान्ध्रुवान्विद्धि शचीपते
M. N. Dutt: That person who having acquired a cow in gift makes a gift of her with a pure heart, succeeds, forsooth, O lord of Sachi, in Obtaining eternal regions of beatitude.
जन्मप्रभृति सत्यं च यो ब्रूयान्नियतेन्द्रियः गुरुद्विजसहः क्षान्तस्तस्य गोभिः समा गतिः
M. N. Dutt: That person who with controlled senses speaks the truth from his birth and who endures everything at the hands of his preceptor and of the Brahmanas, and who practises forgiveness, gains an end that is equal to that of kine.
न जातु ब्राह्मणो वाच्यो यदवाच्यं शचीपते मनसा गोषु न द्रुह्येद्गोवृत्तिर्गोनुकम्पकः
M. N. Dutt: Improper words, O lord of Shachi, should never be addressed to a Brahmana. One, again, should not, in even his mind, do an injury to a cow. One should in his conduct, imitate the cow, and show mercy towards the cow.
सत्ये धर्मे च निरतस्तस्य शक्र फलं शृणु गोसहस्रेण समिता तस्य धेनुर्भवत्युत
M. N. Dutt: Hear, O Shakra, of the fruits which truthful persons enjoy. If such a person gives away a single cow, that becomes thousandfold.
क्षत्रियस्य गुणैरेभिरन्वितस्य फलं शृणु तस्यापि शततुल्या गौर्भवतीति विनिश्चयः
M. N. Dutt: If Kshatriya endued with such qualifications, makes a gift of a single cow, his merit equals that of a Brahmana's That single cow, listen, O Shakra, which such a Kshatriya gives away produces as much merit as the single cow that a Brahmana gives away does under similar circumstances. This is the issue of the scriptures.
वैश्यस्यैते यदि गुणास्तस्य पञ्चाशतं भवेत् शूद्रस्यापि विनीतस्य चतुर्भागफलं स्मृतम्
M. N. Dutt: If a Vaishya, endued with similar accomplishments, were to make a gift of a single cow, that cow would equal five hundred kine. If a Shudra endued with humility were to make a gift of a cow, such cow would be equal to a hundred and twenty five kine. one COW a a
एतच्चैवं योऽनुतिष्ठेत युक्तः; सत्येन युक्तो गुरुशुश्रूषया च दान्तः क्षान्तो देवतार्ची प्रशान्तः; शुचिर्बुद्धो धर्मशीलोऽनहंवाक्
AI Translation: And he who thus practices, being thus united, united with truth, with service to the teacher, self-controlled, patient, devoted to the gods, tranquil, pure, wise, of virtuous conduct, free from egoism,
महत्फलं प्राप्नुते स द्विजाय; दत्त्वा दोग्ध्रीं विधिनानेन धेनुम् नित्यं दद्यादेकभक्तः सदा च; सत्ये स्थितो गुरुशुश्रूषिता च
AI Translation: One who gives a cow to a brahmin in accordance with this procedure obtains great fruit. One who always gives, who is always devoted to one meal, who abides in truth, who serves the guru,
वेदाध्यायी गोषु यो भक्तिमांश्च; नित्यं दृष्ट्वा योऽभिनन्देत गाश्च आ जातितो यश्च गवां नमेत; इदं फलं शक्र निबोध तस्य
M. N. Dutt: Hear, O Shakra, what the merit is of that person who, duly studying the Vedas, shows respect for kine, who always becomes glad on seeing kine, and who since his birth always bows his head to kine.
यत्स्यादिष्ट्वा राजसूये फलं तु; यत्स्यादिष्ट्वा बहुना काञ्चनेन एतत्तुल्यं फलमस्याहुरग्र्यं; सर्वे सन्तस्त्वृषयो ये च सिद्धाः
M. N. Dutt: The merit which one wins by celebrating the Rajasuya sacrifice, the merit that one acquires by making gifts of heaps of gold, that high merit is acquired by a person who shows such respect for kine. Virtuous Rishis and great persons crowned with success have said so.
योऽग्रं भक्तान्किंचिदप्राश्य दद्या;द्गोभ्यो नित्यं गोव्रती सत्यवादी शान्तो बुद्धो गोसहस्रस्य पुण्यं; संवत्सरेणाप्नुयात्पुण्यशीलः
M. N. Dutt: Given to truth, possessed of a tranquil soul, free from cupidity, always truthful in speech, and behaving with respect towards kine with the steadiness of a vow, the man who, for a whole year, before himself taking any food, regularly presents some food to kine, acquires the merit, by such an act, of the gift of a thousand kine.
य एकं भक्तमश्नीयाद्दद्यादेकं गवां च यत् दश वर्षाण्यनन्तानि गोव्रती गोनुकम्पकः
M. N. Dutt: That man who takes only one meal a day and who gives away the entire quantity of his other meal to kine, that man, who thus respects kine with the steadiness of a vow and shows such mercy towards them, enjoys for ten years unlimited happiness.
एकेनैव च भक्तेन यः क्रीत्वा गां प्रयच्छति यावन्ति तस्य प्रोक्तानि दिवसानि शतक्रतो तावच्छतानां स गवां फलमाप्नोति शाश्वतम्
AI Translation: One who buys a cow with devotion and gives it away For as many days as have been declared by you, O Indra, For that many hundreds of cows he attains the eternal fruit.
Supplementary Passages:
13.72.31 After 31, D1-3 ins.: *365 राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः
ब्राह्मणस्य फलं हीदं क्षत्रियेऽभिहितं शृणु पञ्चवार्षिकमेतत्तु क्षत्रियस्य फलं स्मृतम् ततोऽर्धेन तु वैश्यस्य शूद्रो वैश्यार्धतः स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: That man who sells himself and with the proceeds thereof purchases kini and gives them away to Brahmanas, enjoys happiness in Heaven for as long a period as kin are seen on Earth.
यश्चात्मविक्रयं कृत्वा गाः क्रीत्वा संप्रयच्छति यावतीः स्पर्शयेद्गा वै तावत्तु फलमश्नुते लोम्नि लोम्नि महाभाग लोकाश्चास्याक्षयाः स्मृताः
AI Translation: One who sells himself, buys cows, and gives them away Obtains as much fruit as he touches the cows. O noble one, in every hair, the worlds are remembered as inexhaustible.
संग्रामेष्वर्जयित्वा तु यो वै गाः संप्रयच्छति आत्मविक्रयतुल्यास्ताः शाश्वता विद्धि कौशिक
AI Translation: Those who, having conquered in battles, give away cows, Know them to be equal to selling oneself, O Kauśika.
अलाभे यो गवां दद्यात्तिलधेनुं यतव्रतः दुर्गात्स तारितो धेन्वा क्षीरनद्यां प्रमोदते
AI Translation: One who, in the absence of cows, gives a cow made of sesamum seeds, observing strict vows, is liberated from the difficult situation by the cow and rejoices in the river of milk.
न त्वेवासां दानमात्रं प्रशस्तं; पात्रं कालो गोविशेषो विधिश्च कालज्ञानं विप्र गवान्तरं हि; दुःखं ज्ञातुं पावकादित्यभूतम्
M. N. Dutt: The mere gift of kine is not fraught with merit. The considerations of worthy recipients, of time, of the kind of kine, and of the ritual to be observed, should be seen. One should determine the proper time for making a gift of kine. One should also determine the distinctive qualifications of both Brahmanas and of kine themselves. Kine should not be given to one in whose house they are likely to suffer from fire or the sun.
स्वाध्यायाढ्यं शुद्धयोनिं प्रशान्तं; वैतानस्थं पापभीरुं कृतज्ञम् गोषु क्षान्तं नातितीक्ष्णं शरण्यं; वृत्तिग्लानं तादृशं पात्रमाहुः
M. N. Dutt: One who is rich in Vedic learning, who is of pure birth, who is gifted with a tranquil soul, who is given to the celebration of sacrifices, who fears the perpetration of sin, who is gifted with varied knowledge, who is compassionate towards kine, who is mild in conduct, who gives protection to all who seek it of him, and who has no means of livelihood assigned to him, is considered as a proper person for receiving a gift of kine.
वृत्तिग्लाने सीदति चातिमात्रं; कृष्यर्थं वा होमहेतोः प्रसूत्याम् गुर्वर्थं वा बालसंवृद्धये वा; धेनुं दद्याद्देशकाले विशिष्टे
M. N. Dutt: To a Brahmana who has no means of livelihood to him while he is want of food for purposes of agriculture, for a child born on account of Homa, for the purposes of his preceptor, for the sustenance of a child born should a cow be given. Indeed, the gift should be made at a proper time and in a proper place.
अन्तर्जाताः सुक्रयज्ञानलब्धाः; प्राणक्रीता निर्जिताश्चौकजाश्च कृच्छ्रोत्सृष्टाः पोषणाभ्यागताश्च; द्वारैरेतैर्गोविशेषाः प्रशस्ताः
M. N. Dutt: Those kine, O Shakra, whose dispositions are well known, which have been won as honoraria for knowledge, or which have been bought in exchange for other animals (such as goats, sheep, etc.), or which have been got by prowess of arms, obtained marriagedower, or which have been acquired by being rescued from situations of danger, or which, their poor owners, being unable to maintain them, have been made over by careful keep, in one's house with the wish of remaining , there, are, for such reasons, considered as proper objects of gift.
बलान्विताः शीलवयोपपन्नाः; सर्वाः प्रशंसन्ति सुगन्धवत्यः यथा हि गङ्गा सरितां वरिष्ठा; तथार्जुनीनां कपिला वरिष्ठा
M. N. Dutt: Or as Those kine which are strong of body, which have good dispositions and which emit a sweet fragrance, are highly spoken of in the matter of gifts. As Ganga is the foremost of all rivers, so is Kapila the foremost of all kine.
तिस्रो रात्रीस्त्वद्भिरुपोष्य भूमौ; तृप्ता गावस्तर्पितेभ्यः प्रदेयाः वत्सैः पुष्टैः क्षीरपैः सुप्रचारा;स्त्र्यहं दत्त्वा गोरसैर्वर्तितव्यम्
M. N. Dutt: Abstaining from all food and subsisting only upon water for three nights, and sleeping for the same for the same time upon the naked earth, one should make gifts of kine to Brahmanas after having pleased them with other presents. Such kine, freed from every vice, should, at the same time, be accompained by healthy calves. Having made the gift, the giver should live for the next three days successively on food consisting only of the products of the cow.
दत्त्वा धेनुं सुव्रतां साधुवत्सां; कल्याणवृत्तामपलायिनीं च यावन्ति लोमानि भवन्ति तस्या;स्तावन्ति वर्षाणि वसत्यमुत्र
M. N. Dutt: By giving away a goodnatured cow, that quietly allows herself to be milked, that always brings forth living and healthy calves, and that does not fly away from the owner's house, the giver enjoys happiness in the next world for as many years as there are hairs on her body.
तथानड्वाहं ब्राह्मणायाथ धुर्यं; दत्त्वा युवानं बलिनं विनीतम् हलस्य वोढारमनन्तवीर्यं; प्राप्नोति लोकान्दशधेनुदस्य
M. N. Dutt: Likewise, by giving to a Brahmana a bull that is capable of carrying heavy loads, that is young and strong and quiet, that quietly bears the yoke of the plough, and that is possessed of such energy as is sufficient to undergo even great labour, one acquires such regions as are his who gives away ten kine.
कान्तारे ब्राह्मणान्गाश्च यः परित्राति कौशिक क्षेमेण च विमुच्येत तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु अश्वमेधक्रतोस्तुल्यं फलं भवति शाश्वतम्
M. N. Dutt: rescues That person who kine and Brahmanas in the forest, O Kaushika, is himself rescued from every sort of danger. Hear what his merit is.
Supplementary Passages:
13.72.44 D4-7.9 ins. after 44cd: D8 after 44: *366 कान्तारं यः प्रपन्नस्तु गां द्विजाय प्रयच्छति क्षेमेण प्रतिमुच्येत तमध्वानं न संशयः यानपात्रं समारोहन्यश्च गां संप्रयच्छति तीर्त्वा समुद्रं क्षेमेण प्रत्यायाति गृहं गृही D4-7.9 ins. after 44: D8 cont. after 366*: *367 मृत्युकाले सहस्राक्ष यश्च गां संप्रयच्छति मृत्युं सुखं स लभते लोकांश्चाप्नोत्यनुत्तमान् क्षत्रियो यश्च वै कश्चिद्यात्राकाले प्रयच्छति गोभिश्च समनुध्यातो जित्वा शत्रून्महीयते यः कश्चित्कर्म यत्किंचित्कर्तुमारभते नृषु गावो दत्त्वा स तत्सर्वं सुखोपायेन विन्दति यं यं कामं समुद्दिश्य गां द्विजाय प्रयच्छति तस्य संपत्स्यते कामः परत्र च शुभां गतिम्
मृत्युकाले सहस्राक्ष यां वृत्तिमनुकाङ्क्षते लोकान्बहुविधान्दिव्यान्यद्वास्य हृदि वर्तते
AI Translation: At the time of death, O Thousand-eyed One, he desires to take up the state of being The various kinds of worlds, the divine ones, which are present in the heart.
तत्सर्वं समवाप्नोति कर्मणा तेन मानवः गोभिश्च समनुज्ञातः सर्वत्र स महीयते
AI Translation: By that act, a man obtains all that. And being permitted by the cows, he is honoured everywhere.
यस्त्वेतेनैव विधिना गां वनेष्वनुगच्छति तृणगोमयपर्णाशी निःस्पृहो नियतः शुचिः
AI Translation: One who follows a cow in the forest, eating grass, cowdung, and leaves, without attachment, restrained, and pure, in accordance with this very procedure,
अकामं तेन वस्तव्यं मुदितेन शतक्रतो मम लोके सुरैः सार्धं लोके यत्रापि चेच्छति
AI Translation: "You must live there unwillingly, O Indra, with joy, in my world together with the gods, wherever you wish."