Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 82

MBh 9 82.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच मया गवां पुरीषं वै श्रिया जुष्टमिति श्रुतम्। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं संशयोऽत्र पितामह॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca mayā gavāṃ purīṣaṃ vai śriyā juṣṭamiti śrutam| etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ saṃśayo'tra pitāmaha||

Yudhishthira said I have heard that the dung of the cow is gifted with prosperity. I wish to hear how this has been occasioned. I have doubts, O grand father which you should remove.

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

MBh 9 82.2

भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गोभिर्नृपेह संवादं श्रिया भरतसत्तम॥

bhīṣma uvāca atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| gobhirnṛpeha saṃvādaṃ śriyā bharatasattama||

Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old story, O king of the conversation between kine and godless of prosperity, O best of the Bharatas.

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

MBh 9 82.3

श्रीः कृत्वेह वपुः कान्तं गोमध्येषु विवेश ह। गावोऽथ विस्मितास्तस्या दृष्ट्वा रूपस्य सम्पदम्॥

śrīḥ kṛtveha vapuḥ kāntaṃ gomadhyeṣu viveśa ha| gāvo'tha vismitāstasyā dṛṣṭvā rūpasya sampadam||

Once on a time, assuming a very beautiful form, the goddess Shree entered a herd of kine. Sceing her beauty the kine became filled with wonder.

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

MBh 9 82.4

गौ उवाच कासि देवि कुतो वा त्वं रूपेणाप्रतिभा भुवि। विस्मिताः स्म महाभागे तव रूपस्य सम्पदा॥

gau uvāca kāsi devi kuto vā tvaṃ rūpeṇāpratibhā bhuvi| vismitāḥ sma mahābhāge tava rūpasya sampadā||

The kine said Who are you, O goddess? Whence have you become nonpareil on Earth for beauty? O highly blessed goddess, we have been filled with wonder at your beauty.

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

MBh 9 82.5

इच्छाम त्वां वयं ज्ञातुं कात्वं क्व च गामिष्यसि। तत्त्वेन वरवर्णाभे सर्वमेतद् ब्रवीहि नः॥

icchāma tvāṃ vayaṃ jñātuṃ kātvaṃ kva ca gāmiṣyasi| tattvena varavarṇābhe sarvametad bravīhi naḥ||

We wish to know who you are. Who indeed, are you? Where will you proceed? O vou of very great beauty, do tell us in detail all We wish to know!

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

MBh 9 82.6

श्री उवाच लोककान्तास्मि भद्रं वः श्री माहं परिश्रुता। मया दैत्याः परित्यक्ता विनष्टाः शाश्वतीः समाः॥६

śrī uvāca lokakāntāsmi bhadraṃ vaḥ śrī māhaṃ pariśrutā| mayā daityāḥ parityaktā vinaṣṭāḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ||6

Shree said Blessed be you, I am dear to all creatures. Indeed. I am known by the name of Shree. Forsaken by me, the demons have been lost for ever.

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

MBh 9 82.7

मयाभिपन्ना देवाश्च मोदन्ते शाश्वतीः समाः। इन्द्रो विवस्वान् सोमश्च विष्णुरापोऽग्निरेव च॥

mayābhipannā devāśca modante śāśvatīḥ samāḥ| indro vivasvān somaśca viṣṇurāpo'gnireva ca||

The celestials, viz., Indra, Vivasvat, Soma, Vishnu, Varuna, and Agni, having obtained me, are sporting happily and will do so for ever.

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

MBh 9 82.8

मयाभिपन्नाः सिध्यन्ते ऋषयो देवतास्तथा। यान् नाविशाम्यहं गावस्ते विनश्यन्ति सर्वशः॥

mayābhipannāḥ sidhyante ṛṣayo devatāstathā| yān nāviśāmyahaṃ gāvaste vinaśyanti sarvaśaḥ||

Indeed, the Rishis and the celestials, only when they are endued with me, become successful. You kine, those beings meet with destruction into whom I do not enter.

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

MBh 9 82.9

धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च मया जुष्टाः सुखान्विताः। एवं प्रभावं मां गावो विजानीत सुखप्रदाः॥

dharmaścārthaśca kāmaśca mayā juṣṭāḥ sukhānvitāḥ| evaṃ prabhāvaṃ māṃ gāvo vijānīta sukhapradāḥ||

Virtue, Prosperity, and Pleasure, only when endued with me, become sources of happiness. You kine, who are givers of sources of happiness, know that I am gifted with such energy.

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

MBh 9 82.10

इच्छामि चापि युष्मासु वस्तुं सर्वासु नित्यदा। आगत्य प्रार्थ ये युष्माञ्छ्रीजुष्टा भवताऽथ वै॥

icchāmi cāpi yuṣmāsu vastuṃ sarvāsu nityadā| āgatya prārtha ye yuṣmāñchrījuṣṭā bhavatā'tha vai||

I wish to always live in every one of you. Going to your presence, I solicit you. Be all of you gifted with Shree.

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

MBh 9 82.11

गाव ऊचुः अध्रुवा चपला च त्वं सामान्या बहुभिः सह। न त्वामिच्छाम भद्रं ते गम्यतां यत्र रंस्यसे॥

gāva ūcuḥ adhruvā capalā ca tvaṃ sāmānyā bahubhiḥ saha| na tvāmicchāma bhadraṃ te gamyatāṃ yatra raṃsyase||

The kine said You are fickle and restless. You allow yourself to be enjoyed by many persons. We do not wish to have you! Blessed be you, go wherever you like.

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

MBh 9 82.12

वपुष्मन्त्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयाद्य वै। यथेष्टं गम्यतां तत्र कृतकार्या वयं त्वया।॥

vapuṣmantyo vayaṃ sarvāḥ kimasmākaṃ tvayādya vai| yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatāṃ tatra kṛtakāryā vayaṃ tvayā|||

As regards ourselves, all of us have good forms. What need have we with you? Go wherever you like. You have already pleased us greatly.

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

MBh 9 82.13

श्रीरुवाच किमेतद् वः क्षमं गावो यन्मां नेहाभिनन्दथ। न मां सम्प्रति गृह्णीध्वं कस्ताद् बै दुर्लभां सतीम्।।१३

śrīruvāca kimetad vaḥ kṣamaṃ gāvo yanmāṃ nehābhinandatha| na māṃ samprati gṛhṇīdhvaṃ kastād bai durlabhāṃ satīm||13

Shree said Is it proper with you, you kine, that you do not welcome me? I am difficult of being attained. Why then do you not accept me?

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

MBh 9 82.14

सत्यं च लोकवादोऽयं लोके चरति सुव्रताः। स्वयं प्राप्ते परिभवो भवतीति विनिश्चयः॥

satyaṃ ca lokavādo'yaṃ loke carati suvratāḥ| svayaṃ prāpte paribhavo bhavatīti viniścayaḥ||

It appears, you creatures of excellent vows, that the popular proverb is true, viz., that it is certain that when one comes to another of this own accord and without being sought, he is not much respected.

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

MBh 9 82.15

महदुग्रं तपः कृत्वा मां निषेवन्ति मानवाः। देवदानवगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगराक्षसाः॥

mahadugraṃ tapaḥ kṛtvā māṃ niṣevanti mānavāḥ| devadānavagandharvāḥ piśācoragarākṣasāḥ||

The gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Pishachas, the Uragas, the Rakshasas, and human being succeed in getting me only after practising the severest austerities.

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

MBh 9 82.16

प्रभाव एष वो गावः प्रतिगृह्णीत मामिह। नावमन्या ह्यहं सौम्यास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे॥

prabhāva eṣa vo gāvaḥ pratigṛhṇīta māmiha| nāvamanyā hyahaṃ saumyāstrailokye sacarācare||

You who have such energy, do you take me! You amiable ones, I am never dishonoured by any one in the three worlds of mobile and immobile creatures.

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

MBh 9 82.17

गाव ऊचुः नावमन्यामहे देवि न त्वां परिभवामहे। अध्रुवा चलचित्तासि ततस्त्वां वर्जयामहे॥

gāva ūcuḥ nāvamanyāmahe devi na tvāṃ paribhavāmahe| adhruvā calacittāsi tatastvāṃ varjayāmahe||

The kine said We do not disregard you, O goddess! We do not slight you! You are fickle and of a very restless heart. It is for this only that we take leave of you.

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

MBh 9 82.18

बहुना च किमुक्तेन गम्यतां यत्र वाञ्छसि। वपुष्मन्त्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयानघे॥

bahunā ca kimuktena gamyatāṃ yatra vāñchasi| vapuṣmantyo vayaṃ sarvāḥ kimasmākaṃ tvayānaghe||

What need of much talk? Go wherever you like. All of us have excellent forms. What need have we with you, O sinless one?

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

MBh 9 82.19

श्रीरुवाच अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि सर्वलोकस्य मानदाः। प्रत्याख्यानेन युष्माकं प्रसादः क्रियतां मम॥

śrīruvāca avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi sarvalokasya mānadāḥ| pratyākhyānena yuṣmākaṃ prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ mama||

Shree said You givers of honours, renounced by you thus, I shall certainly be an object of disregard with all the world? Do you show me grace.

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

MBh 9 82.20

महाभागा भवत्यो वै शरण्याः शरणागताम्। परित्रायन्तु मां नित्यं भजमानामनिन्दिताम्॥

mahābhāgā bhavatyo vai śaraṇyāḥ śaraṇāgatām| paritrāyantu māṃ nityaṃ bhajamānāmaninditām||

You are all highly blessed, You are ever ready to grant protection to those who seek your protection. I have come to you soliciting your refuge. I have no fault. Do you rescue me.

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

MBh 9 82.21

माननामहमिच्छामि भवत्यः सततं शिवाः। अप्येकाङ्गेश्वधे वस्तुमिच्छामि च सुकुत्सिते॥

mānanāmahamicchāmi bhavatyaḥ satataṃ śivāḥ| apyekāṅgeśvadhe vastumicchāmi ca sukutsite||

Know that I shall always be devoted to you! I wish to live in any part of your bodies, however repulsive it may be. Indeed, I wish to live even in you rectum.

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

MBh 9 82.22

न वोऽस्ति कुत्सितं किंचिदङ्गवालक्ष्यतेऽनघाः। पुण्या: पवित्राः सुभगा ममादेशं प्रयच्छथ॥

na vo'sti kutsitaṃ kiṃcidaṅgavālakṣyate'naghāḥ| puṇyā: pavitrāḥ subhagā mamādeśaṃ prayacchatha||

You sinless ones, I do not see that you have any part in your bodies that may be considered as repulsive, for you are sacred, and purifying, and highly blessed! Do you, however, grant my prayer. Do you tell me in which part of your bodies shall I live.

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

MBh 9 82.23

भीष्म उवाच वसेयं यत्र वो देहे तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हथ। एवमुक्तास्ततो गावः शुभाः करुणवत्सलाः। सम्मत्र्य सहिताः सर्वाः श्रियमूचुनराधिप॥

bhīṣma uvāca vaseyaṃ yatra vo dehe tanme vyākhyātumarhatha| evamuktāstato gāvaḥ śubhāḥ karuṇavatsalāḥ| sammatrya sahitāḥ sarvāḥ śriyamūcunarādhipa||

Bhishma said Thus addressed by Shree, the kine, always auspicious and bent on showing kindness to all who are devoted to them, parleyed with one another, and then addressing Shree, said to her, O king, these words.

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

MBh 9 82.24

गौ उवाच अवश्यं मानना कार्या तवास्माभिर्यशास्विनि। शकृन्मूत्रे निवस त्वं पुण्यमेतद्धि नः शुभे॥

gau uvāca avaśyaṃ mānanā kāryā tavāsmābhiryaśāsvini| śakṛnmūtre nivasa tvaṃ puṇyametaddhi naḥ śubhe||

The kine said you of great fame, it is certainly desirable that we should honour you! Do you live in our urine and dung. Both these are sacred, O goddess.

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

MBh 9 82.25

श्रीरुवाच दिष्ट्या प्रसादो युष्माभिः कृतो मेऽनुग्रहात्मकः। एवं भवतु भद्रं वः पूजितास्मि सुखप्रदाः॥

śrīruvāca diṣṭyā prasādo yuṣmābhiḥ kṛto me'nugrahātmakaḥ| evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ vaḥ pūjitāsmi sukhapradāḥ||

Shree said By good luck, you have shown me much favour. Let it be even as you say! Blessed by you all, I have really been honoured by you, you givers of happiness.

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

MBh 9 82.26

भीष्म उवाच एवं कृत्वा तु समयं श्रीर्गोभिः सह भारत। पश्यन्तीनां ततस्तासां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत॥

bhīṣma uvāca evaṃ kṛtvā tu samayaṃ śrīrgobhiḥ saha bhārata| paśyantīnāṃ tatastāsāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata||

Bhishma said Having, O Bharata, made this contract with kine, Shree there and then, before those kine, disappeared.

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

MBh 9 82.27

एवं गोशकृतः पुत्र माहात्म्यं तेऽनुवर्णितम्। माहात्म्यं च गवां भूयः श्रूयतां गदतो मम॥

evaṃ gośakṛtaḥ putra māhātmyaṃ te'nuvarṇitam| māhātmyaṃ ca gavāṃ bhūyaḥ śrūyatāṃ gadato mama||

I have thus told you, O son, the glory of the dung of kine. I shall once again describe to you the glory of kine. Do you listen to me. Bhishma said Having, O Bharata, made this contract with kine, Shree there and then, before those kine, disappeared.

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

MBh 9 82.28

एवं गोशकृतः पुत्र माहात्म्यं तेऽनुवर्णितम्। माहात्म्यं च गवां भूयः श्रूयतां गदतो मम॥

evaṃ gośakṛtaḥ putra māhātmyaṃ te'nuvarṇitam| māhātmyaṃ ca gavāṃ bhūyaḥ śrūyatāṃ gadato mama||

I have thus told you, O son, the glory of the dung of kine. I shall once again describe to you the glory of kine. Do you listen to me.

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