नमस्ते अस्तु नारदानुष्ठु विदुषे वशा । कतमासां भीमतमा यामदत्त्वा पराभवेत्
Homage to you, Nārada, knower of the rite of the cow; which among them is the most terrible, by giving which one would be ruined?
विलिप्ती या बृहस्पतेऽथो सूतवशा वशा । तस्या नाश्नीयादब्राह्मणो य आशंसेत भूत्याम्
The ointment-cow, O Bṛhaspati, and the charioteer's cow—a non-Brāhmaṇa should not eat of her, if he desires prosperity.
त्रीणि वै वशाजातानि विलिप्ती सूतवशा वशा । ताः प्र यच्छेद्ब्रह्मभ्यः सोऽनाव्रस्कः प्रजापतौ
There are indeed three kinds of cows: the ointment-cow, the charioteer's cow, and the ordinary cow; these he should give to the Brāhmaṇas—he is not excluded from the sacrifice of Prajāpati.
एतद्वो ब्राह्मणा हविरिति मन्वीत याचितः । वशां चेदेनं याचेयुर्या भीमाददुषो गृहे
Let this be your oblation, O Brāhmaṇas, so should one think when asked; if they ask him for a cow, let him give the one that is most terrible in the house.
देवा वशां पर्यवदन् न नोऽदादिति हीडिताः । एताभिर्ऋग्भिर्भेदं तस्माद्वै स पराभवत्
The gods surrounded the cow of plenty, not giving her to us, though praised; with these hymns they broke her, and thus he was defeated.
उतैनां भेदो नाददाद्वशामिन्द्रेण याचितः । तस्मात्तं देवा आगसोऽवृश्चन्न् अहमुत्तरे
But the breaker did not take the cow of plenty, though he begged Indra; therefore the gods cut him off from the act, and I from the later ones.
ये वशाया अदानाय वदन्ति परिरापिणः । इन्द्रस्य मन्यवे जाल्मा आ वृश्चन्ते अचित्त्या
Those who, for the giving of the cow of plenty, speak with flattery—Indra's anger, like a net, cuts them off in their folly.
ये गोपतिं पराणीयाथाहुर्मा ददा इति । रुद्रस्यास्तां ते हेतीं परि यन्त्यचित्त्या
Those who say, 'Do not give the cow of the herdsman, drive him away,'—let the weapons of Rudra surround them in their ignorance.
यदि हुतां यद्यहुताममा च पचते वशाम् । देवान्त्सब्राह्मणान् ऋत्वा जिह्मो लोकान् निर्ऋच्छति
Whether he cooks the cow of plenty offered or not offered, or eats her himself, he, crooked in rite, casts out gods, priests, and sacrificers from their worlds.
श्रमेण तपसा सृष्टा ब्रह्मणा वित्तर्ते श्रिता
Created by toil and austerity, established by Brahman, she stands firm in knowledge.
सत्येनावृता श्रिया प्रावृता यशसा परीवृता
Covered with truth, wrapped in splendor, enveloped by glory.
स्वधया परिहिता श्रद्धया पर्यूढा दीक्षया गुप्ता यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठिता लोको निधनम्
Sustained by self-rule, surrounded by faith, protected by consecration, established in sacrifice, she is the world's foundation.
ब्रह्म पदवायं ब्राह्मणोऽधिपतिः
Brahman is her path, the Brahmin her lord.
तामाददानस्य ब्रह्मगवीं जिनतो ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियस्य
Whoever takes her, the cow of Brahman, from a Brahmin, conquers the Kshatriya.
अप क्रामति सूनृता वीर्यं पुण्या लक्ष्मीः
Truth departs from him, as do strength, virtue, and good fortune.
ओजश्च तेजश्च सहश्च बलं च वाक्चेन्द्रियं च श्रीश्च धर्मश्च
Energy, brilliance, might, strength, speech, senses, prosperity, and righteousness—
ब्रह्म च क्षत्रं च राष्ट्रं च विशश्च त्विषिश्च यशश्च वर्चश्च द्रविणं च
Brahman, sovereignty, kingdom, people, radiance, fame, luster, and wealth—
आयुश्च रूपं च नाम च कीर्तिश्च प्राणश्चापानश्च चक्षुश्च श्रोत्रं च
Life, form, name, renown, breath, expiration, sight, and hearing—
पयश्च रसश्चान्नं चान्नाद्यं च र्तं च सत्यं चेष्टं च पूर्तं च प्रजा च पशवश्च
Milk, taste, food, what is eaten, truth, reality, works, gifts, offspring, and cattle—
तानि सर्वाण्यप क्रामन्ति ब्रह्मगवीमाददानस्य जिनतो ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियस्य
All these depart from him who takes the cow of Brahman from a Brahmin, conquering the Kshatriya.
सैषा भीमा ब्रह्मगव्यघविषा साक्षात्कृत्या कूल्बजमावृता
This is the terrible cow of Brahman, poison-mouthed, manifestly dreadful, wrapped with the riverbank grass.
सर्वाण्यस्यां घोराणि सर्वे च मृत्यवः
All horrors are in her, and all deaths.
सर्वाण्यस्यां क्रूराणि सर्वे पुरुषवधाः
All cruel deeds, all acts of killing a person, are within her.
सा ब्रह्मज्यं देवपीयुं ब्रह्मगव्यादीयमाना मृत्योः पड्वीश आ द्यति
She, being struck by the slayer of Brahmins, the devourer of the gods, is cast down by the lord of death.
मेनिः शतवधा हि सा ब्रह्मज्यस्य क्षितिर्हि सा
She is a stain with a hundred wounds; she is the earth of the Brahmin-slayer.
तस्माद्वै ब्राह्मणानां गौर्दुराधर्षा विजानता
Therefore, the cow of the Brahmins is not to be violated by one who understands.
वज्रो धावन्ती वैश्वानर उद्वीता
The thunderbolt, running, is kindled by Vaiśvānara.
हेतिः शफान् उत्खिदन्ती महादेवोऽपेक्षमाणा
A missile, digging out hooves, waits for the great god.
क्षुरपविरीक्षमाणा वाश्यमानाभि स्फूर्जति
Sharpened like a razor, being watched, it quivers when struck.
मृत्युर्हिङ्कृण्वत्युग्रो देवः पुच्छं पर्यस्यन्ती
Death, fierce, making a sound, the god, circles around the tail.