Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 79

MBh 9 79.1

वसिष्ठ उवाच शतं वर्षसहस्राणां तपस्तप्तं सुदुष्करम्। गोभिः पूर्वं विसृष्टाभिर्गच्छेम श्रेष्ठतामिति॥

vasiṣṭha uvāca śataṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ tapastaptaṃ suduṣkaram| gobhiḥ pūrvaṃ visṛṣṭābhirgacchema śreṣṭhatāmiti||

Vasishtha said The kine which had been created in former age practised the hardest penances for a hundred thousand years with the objects of acquiring a position of great preeminence.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.2

लोकेऽस्मिन् दक्षिणानां च सर्वासां वयमुत्तमाः। भवेम न च लिप्येम दोषेणेति परंतप॥

loke'smin dakṣiṇānāṃ ca sarvāsāṃ vayamuttamāḥ| bhavema na ca lipyema doṣeṇeti paraṃtapa||

Indeed, O scorcher of enemies, they said to themselves. We shall, in this world, become the best of all kinds of presents in sacrifices, and we shall not be liable to be sullied with any fault.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.3

अस्मत्पुरीषस्नानेन जनः पूयेत सर्वदा। शकृता च पवित्रार्थं कुर्वीरन् देवमानुषाः॥ तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च। प्रदातारश्च लोकान् नो गच्छेयुरिति मानद॥

asmatpurīṣasnānena janaḥ pūyeta sarvadā| śakṛtā ca pavitrārthaṃ kurvīran devamānuṣāḥ|| tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca| pradātāraśca lokān no gaccheyuriti mānada||

By bathing in water mixed with our dung, people shall become purified. The celestials and men shall use our dung for the purpose of purifying all creatures mobile and immobile. They also who will give us away shall acquire those regions of happiness which will be ours.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.4

ताभ्यो वरं ददौ ब्रह्मा तपसोऽन्ते स्वयं प्रभुः। एवं भवत्विति प्रभुर्लोकांस्तारयतेति च॥

tābhyo varaṃ dadau brahmā tapaso'nte svayaṃ prabhuḥ| evaṃ bhavatviti prabhurlokāṃstārayateti ca||

Appearing to them at the termination of their austerities, the powerful Brahman gave them the boons they sought, sayingyour desire will be fulfilled. Do you rescue all the worlds.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.5

उत्तस्थुः सिद्धकामास्ता भूतभव्यस्य मातरः। प्रातर्नमस्यास्ता गावस्ततः पुष्टिमवाप्नुयात्॥

uttasthuḥ siddhakāmāstā bhūtabhavyasya mātaraḥ| prātarnamasyāstā gāvastataḥ puṣṭimavāpnuyāt||

Crowned with fruition of their desires, they all rose upthose mothers of both the Past and the Future. Every morning, people should bow respectfully to kine. As the result of this, they are sure to acquire prosperity.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.6

तपसोऽन्ते महाराज गावो लोकपरायणाः। तस्माद् गावो महाभागाः पवित्रं परमुच्यते॥

tapaso'nte mahārāja gāvo lokaparāyaṇāḥ| tasmād gāvo mahābhāgāḥ pavitraṃ paramucyate||

At the termination of their penances, O king, kine became the refuge of the world. It is therefore that kine are said to be highly blessed, sacred, and the foremost of all things. It is therefore that kine are said to stay at the very head of all creatures.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.7

तथैव सर्वभूतानां समतिष्ठन्त मूर्धनि। समानवत्सां कपिलां धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां ब्रह्मलोके महीयते॥

tathaiva sarvabhūtānāṃ samatiṣṭhanta mūrdhani| samānavatsāṃ kapilāṃ dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ brahmaloke mahīyate||

By giving away a Kapila cow with a calf resembling herself, giving profuse milk, free from every vicious habit, and covered with a piece of cloth, the giver acquires great honours in the region of Brahma.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.8

लोहितां तुल्यवत्सां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां सूर्यलोके महीयते॥

lohitāṃ tulyavatsāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ sūryaloke mahīyate||

By giving away a red cow with a calf that resembes herself, giving milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires great honours in the region of the Sun.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.9

समानवत्सां शबलां धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां सोमलोके महीयते॥

samānavatsāṃ śabalāṃ dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ somaloke mahīyate||

By giving away a cow of variegated hue, with a calf similar to herself, giving milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires great honours in the region of Soma.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.10

समानवत्सां श्वेतां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रता वस्त्रसंवीतामिन्द्रलोके महीयते॥

samānavatsāṃ śvetāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratā vastrasaṃvītāmindraloke mahīyate||

By giving away a white cow, with a calf similar to herself, giving milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires great honours in the region of Indra.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.11

समानवत्सां कृष्णां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामग्निलोके महीयते॥

samānavatsāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāmagniloke mahīyate||

By giving away a cow of dark hue, with a calf similar to herself, giving milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires great honours in the region of FireGod.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.12

समानवत्सां धूम्रां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां याम्यलोके महीयते॥

samānavatsāṃ dhūmrāṃ tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ yāmyaloke mahīyate||

By giving away a smokecolored cow, with a calf similar to herself, giving milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, onc acquires great honours in the region of Yama.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.13

अपां फेनसवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां वारुणं लोकमाप्नुते॥

apāṃ phenasavarṇāṃ tu savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām| pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ vāruṇaṃ lokamāpnute||

By giving away a frothycoloured cow, with a calf and vessel of white brass for milking her, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires the region of Varuna.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.14

वातरेणुसवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां वायुलोके महीयते॥

vātareṇusavarṇāṃ tu savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām| pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ vāyuloke mahīyate||

By giving away a dustcoloured cow, with a calf and a vessel of white brass for malking her, and covered with a piece of cloth, one : acquires great honours in the region of the WindGod.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.15

हिरण्यवर्णां पिंगाक्षीं सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां कौबेरं लोकमश्नुते॥

hiraṇyavarṇāṃ piṃgākṣīṃ savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām| pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ kauberaṃ lokamaśnute||

By giving away a goldhued cow, having eyes of a tawny colour, with a calf and a vessel of white brass for making her, and covered with a piece of cloth, one enjoys the happiness of the region of Kubera.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.16

पलालधूम्रवर्णां तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां पितृलोके महीयते॥

palāladhūmravarṇāṃ tu savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām| pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ pitṛloke mahīyate||

By giving away a cow of the hue of the smoke of straw, with calf and a vessel of white brass for milking her, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires great honours in the region of the departed Manes.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.17

सवत्सां पीवरी दत्त्वा दृतिकण्ठामलंकृताम्। वैश्वदेवमसम्बाध स्थानं श्रेष्ठं प्रपद्यते॥

savatsāṃ pīvarī dattvā dṛtikaṇṭhāmalaṃkṛtām| vaiśvadevamasambādha sthānaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ prapadyate||

By giving away a fat cow with the flesh of its throat hanging down and accompanied by her calf, one acquires easily the high region of the Vishvedevas.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.18

समानवत्सां गौरी तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्। सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां वसूनां लोकमाप्नुयात्॥

samānavatsāṃ gaurī tu dhenuṃ dattvā payasvinīm| suvratāṃ vastrasaṃvītāṃ vasūnāṃ lokamāpnuyāt||

By giving away a Gouri cow, with a calf similar to her, giving milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquire the region of the Vasus,

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.19

पाण्डुकम्बलवर्णाभां सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्। प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां साध्यानां लोकमाप्नुते॥

pāṇḍukambalavarṇābhāṃ savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām| pradāya vastrasaṃvītāṃ sādhyānāṃ lokamāpnute||

By giving away a cow of the hue of a white blanket, with a calf and a vessel of white brass, and covered with a piece of cloth, one acquires the region of the Saddhyas.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.20

वैराटपृष्टमुक्षाणं सर्वरत्नैरलंकृतम्। प्रददन्मरुतां लोकान् स राजन् प्रतिपद्यते॥

vairāṭapṛṣṭamukṣāṇaṃ sarvaratnairalaṃkṛtam| pradadanmarutāṃ lokān sa rājan pratipadyate||

By giving away a bull with a huge hump and adorned with every jewel, the giver, O king, acquires the region of the Maruts.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.21

वयोपपन्नं लीलाङ्गं सर्वरत्नसमन्वितम्। गन्धर्वाप्सरसां लोकान् दत्त्वा प्राप्नोति मानवः॥

vayopapannaṃ līlāṅgaṃ sarvaratnasamanvitam| gandharvāpsarasāṃ lokān dattvā prāpnoti mānavaḥ||

By giving away a bluecoloured bull, that is fullgrown in years and adorned with every ornament, the giver acquires the regions of the celestial musicians and nymphs.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.22

दृतिकण्ठमनड्वाहं सर्वरत्नैरलंकृतम्। दत्त्वा प्रजापतेर्लोकान् विशोकः प्रतिपद्यते॥

dṛtikaṇṭhamanaḍvāhaṃ sarvaratnairalaṃkṛtam| dattvā prajāpaterlokān viśokaḥ pratipadyate||

By giving away a cow with the flesh of her throat hanging down, and adorned with every ornament, the giver, shorn of grief, acquires the region of Prajapati himself.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.23

गोप्रदानरतो याति भित्त्वा जलदसंचयान्। विमानेनार्कचर्णेन दिवि राजन् विराजते।॥

gopradānarato yāti bhittvā jaladasaṃcayān| vimānenārkacarṇena divi rājan virājate|||

That man, O king, who habitually makes gifts of kine, proceeds passing through the clouds, on a sunny car to the celestial region and shines there in splendour.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.24

तं चारुवेषाः सुश्रोण्यः सहस्रं सुरयोषितः। रमयन्ति नरश्रेष्ठं गोप्रदानरतं नरम्॥

taṃ cāruveṣāḥ suśroṇyaḥ sahasraṃ surayoṣitaḥ| ramayanti naraśreṣṭhaṃ gopradānarataṃ naram||

That man who habitually makes gifts of kine is considered as the foremost of his kind. When thus proceeding to celestial region, he is received by a thousand celestiai damsels of beautiful hips and adorned with handsome dresses and ornaments. Those girls serve him there and minister to his delight.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.25

वीणानां वल्लकीनां च नू पुराणां च सिञ्जितैः। हासैश्च हरिणाक्षीणां सुप्तः स प्रतिबोध्यते॥

vīṇānāṃ vallakīnāṃ ca nū purāṇāṃ ca siñjitaiḥ| hāsaiśca hariṇākṣīṇāṃ suptaḥ sa pratibodhyate||

He sleeps there in peace and is awakened by the musical laughter of those gazelleeyed maidens, the sweet notes of their Vinas, the soft strains of their lutes, and the sweet tinkle of their Nupuras.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 79.26

स्तावन्ति वर्षाणि महीयते सा स्वर्गच्युतश्चापि ततो नृलोके प्रसूयते वै विपुले गृहे सः॥

stāvanti varṣāṇi mahīyate sā svargacyutaścāpi tato nṛloke prasūyate vai vipule gṛhe saḥ||

The man who makes gifts of kine lives in the celestial region and is honoured there for as many years as there are hairs on the bodies of the kine he gives away. Falling off from the celestial region (upon the termination of his merit), such a man is born as a man and, in fact, in a superior family among men.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)