Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच पवित्राणां पवित्रं यच्छ्रेष्ठं लोके च यद्भवेत् पावनं परमं चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: 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 प्रजाश्चेमाः पयसा हविषा तथा
M. N. Dutt: 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 किंचिद्गोभ्यो भरतसत्तम एताः पवित्राः पुण्याश्च त्रिषु लोकेष्वनुत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: 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 चैता नरपते यान्ति स्वर्गं मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: 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 यौवनाश्वश्च ययातिर्नहुषस्तथा गावो ददन्तः सततं सहस्रशतसंमिताः गताः परमकं स्थानं देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम्
M. N. Dutt: Yuvanashvas son Mandhatri, Yayati, and Nahusha, used always to give away kine in thousands.
अपि चात्र पुरावृत्तं कथयिष्यामि तेऽनघ
AI Translation: And here I shall tell you what happened in the past, O sinless one.
Supplementary Passages:
13.80.6 After 6, D2.3 ins.: *378 सौरभ्यः पुण्यकर्माणः पावकाः शुभदर्शनाः यदर्थं गोशताश्चैव सौरभ्यः सुरसत्तम तच्च मे शृणु कार्त्स्न्येन वदतो ह्यरिसूदन पुरा देवयुगे तात दैत्येन्द्रेषु महात्मसु
ऋषीणामुत्तमं धीमान्कृष्णद्वैपायनं शुकः अभिवाद्याह्निकं कृत्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः पितरं परिपप्रच्छ दृष्टलोकपरावरम्
M. N. Dutt: 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?
को यज्ञः सर्वयज्ञानां वरिष्ठ उपलक्ष्यते किं च कृत्वा परं स्वर्गं प्राप्नुवन्ति मनीषिणः
AI Translation: Which sacrifice is considered the best of all sacrifices? And having done what do the wise attain the highest heaven?
केन देवाः पवित्रेण स्वर्गमश्नन्ति वा विभो किं च यज्ञस्य यज्ञत्वं क्व च यज्ञः प्रतिष्ठितः
AI Translation: By what means do the gods, O Lord, enjoy heaven? And what is the nature of the sacrifice? Where is the sacrifice established?
दानानामुत्तमं किं च किं च सत्रमतः परम् पवित्राणां पवित्रं च यत्तद्ब्रूहि ममानघ
AI Translation: What is the best of gifts? What is the best of sacrifices? What is the most sacred of the sacred? Tell me that, O sinless one.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं व्यासः परमधर्मवित् पुत्रायाकथयत्सर्वं तत्त्वेन भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: 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 गावः पुण्याः पवित्राश्च पावनं धर्म एव च
M. N. Dutt: 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 इत्यनुशुश्रुमः शृङ्गार्थे समुपासन्त ताः किल प्रभुमव्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: Formerly kine were hornless as we have heard. For getting horns they adored the eternal and powerful Brahman.
Supplementary Passages:
13.80.13 D4-7.9 ins. after 13ab: D8 after 16: *379 ताः किल शृङ्गमाकाङ्क्षन्वर्षातपनिवारणम् मानुषीं च त्वचं गुर्वीं शीतवातातपासहाम् वस्त्रावरणगोचर्ममविरोधः परस्परम् ततो ब्रह्मा ददौ तासां मनसा धारितां पराम्
ततो ब्रह्मा तु गाः प्रायमुपविष्टाः समीक्ष्य ह ईप्सितं प्रददौ ताभ्यो गोभ्यः प्रत्येकशः प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the kine paying their adorations to him and sitting without food, the powerful Brahman granted to each of them what each desired.
Supplementary Passages:
13.80.14 D4.6.7.9 ins. after 14: D5 after 16: D8 after the first occurrence of 14cd: *380 आहूय मनुजं प्राह गोषु स्वां तनुमादधः आच्छादनं चावरणं यूयं गृह्णीत मानवाः शीतवातातपं येन धारयन्ति प्रजार्थिनः सुकुमारत्वचं यूयं वस्त्रैराच्छादयिष्यथ एवमस्त्विति ताः प्रादात्त्वचं स्वां चर्म एव च
तासां शृङ्गाण्यजायन्त यस्या यादृङ्मनोगतम् नानावर्णाः शृङ्गवन्त्यस्ता व्यरोचन्त पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: 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 गावस्तेजो महद्दिव्यं गवां दानं प्रशस्यते
M. N. Dutt: 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.
ये चैताः संप्रयच्छन्ति साधवो वीतमत्सराः ते वै सुकृतिनः प्रोक्ताः सर्वदानप्रदाश्च ते गवां लोकं तथा पुण्यमाप्नुवन्ति च तेऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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.
Supplementary Passages:
13.80.18 For 18cd, D4-9 subst.: *381 फलानि च रसाढ्यानि मृदूनि रुचिराणि च
सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सूक्ष्मकाञ्चनवालुका सर्वत्र सुखसंस्पर्शा निष्पङ्का नीरजा शुभा
M. N. Dutt: 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 मणिदण्डैर्हिरण्मयैः तरुणादित्यसंकाशैर्भान्ति तत्र जलाशयाः
M. N. Dutt: 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 नीलोत्पलविमिश्रैश्च सरोभिर्बहुपङ्कजैः
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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 महाधनैः उद्धूतपुलिनास्तत्र जातरूपैश्च निम्नगाः
M. N. Dutt: There are rivers whose banks are variegated with many bright pearls and shining gems and gold.
सर्वरत्नमयैश्चित्रैरवगाढा नगोत्तमैः जातरूपमयैश्चान्यैर्हुताशनसमप्रभैः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
सौवर्णगिरयस्तत्र मणिरत्नशिलोच्चयाः सर्वरत्नमयैर्भान्ति शृङ्गैश्चारुभिरुच्छ्रितैः
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: Pious and illustrious persons sport there happily, moving from place to place, O Bharata, on delightful and highly beautiful cars.
उपक्रीडन्ति तान्राजञ्शुभाश्चाप्सरसां गणाः एताँल्लोकानवाप्नोति गां दत्त्वा वै युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: 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.
Supplementary Passages:
13.80.29 After 29, D1-3 ins.: *382 अप्सरोभिश्च सहितो भाति वै गोप्रदो नरः
यासामधिपतिः पूषा मारुतो बलवान्बली ऐश्वर्ये वरुणो राजा ता मां पान्तु युगंधराः
AI Translation: May those whose lord is Pūṣan, the powerful Maruta, the strong, the powerful, the lord of wealth, Varuna, protect me, the bearers of the Yugas.
सुरूपा बहुरूपाश्च विश्वरूपाश्च मातरः प्राजापत्या इति ब्रह्मञ्जपेन्नित्यं यतव्रतः
AI Translation: The mothers who are beautiful, many-formed, and of universal form, O Brahman, one should always recite the Prajapati mantra with restrained vows.
गास्तु शुश्रूषते यश्च समन्वेति च सर्वशः तस्मै तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति वरानपि सुदुर्लभान्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
न द्रुह्येन्मनसा चापि गोषु ता हि सुखप्रदाः अर्चयेत सदा चैव नमस्कारैश्च पूजयेत् दान्तः प्रीतमना नित्यं गवां व्युष्टिं तथाश्नुते
AI Translation: One should not be angry with them even in one's mind, for they are the givers of happiness. One should always worship them with salutations and offerings. One who is self-controlled and always joyful attains the prosperity of cows.
येन देवाः पवित्रेण भुञ्जते लोकमुत्तमम् यत्पवित्रं पवित्राणां तद्घृतं शिरसा वहेत्
M. N. Dutt: 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 प्राशेद्घृतं दद्याद्गवां व्युष्टिं तथाश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: 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.
त्र्यहमुष्णं पिबेन्मूत्रं त्र्यहमुष्णं पिबेत्पयः गवामुष्णं पयः पीत्वा त्र्यहमुष्णं घृतं पिबेत् त्र्यहमुष्णं घृतं पीत्वा वायुभक्षो भवेत्त्र्यहम्
AI Translation: For three days he should drink hot urine, for three days he should drink hot milk, Having drunk hot milk of cows for three days, he should drink hot ghee for three days, Having
निर्हृतैश्च यवैर्गोभिर्मासं प्रसृतयावकः ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं सर्वमेतेन शुध्यति
M. N. Dutt: 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.
पराभवार्थं दैत्यानां देवैः शौचमिदं कृतम् देवत्वमपि च प्राप्ताः संसिद्धाश्च महाबलाः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
गावः पवित्राः पुण्याश्च पावनं परमं महत् ताश्च दत्त्वा द्विजातिभ्यो नरः स्वर्गमुपाश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: 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 गोमतीं मनसा जपेत् पूताभिरद्भिराचम्य शुचिर्भवति निर्मलः
M. N. Dutt: 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 विद्यावेदव्रतस्नाता ब्राह्मणाः पुण्यकर्मिणः
AI Translation: In the midst of fire, in the midst of cows, and in the assembly of Brahmins, Brahmins who are bathed in the Vedas, observances, and vows, and who perform meritorious deeds,
अध्यापयेरञ्शिष्यान्वै गोमतीं यज्ञसंमिताम् त्रिरात्रोपोषितः श्रुत्वा गोमतीं लभते वरम्
AI Translation: Those who teach their disciples the Gomati, which is equal to the sacrifice, Having fasted for three nights, one attains the best by listening to the Gomati.
पुत्रकामश्च लभते पुत्रं धनमथापि च पतिकामा च भर्तारं सर्वकामांश्च मानवः गावस्तुष्टाः प्रयच्छन्ति सेविता वै न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
एवमेता महाभागा यज्ञियाः सर्वकामदाः रोहिण्य इति जानीहि नैताभ्यो विद्यते परम्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
इत्युक्तः स महातेजाः शुकः पित्रा महात्मना पूजयामास गा नित्यं तस्मात्त्वमपि पूजय
M. N. Dutt: 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.