अस्ति पार्थ महाबाहो पांडवानां धुरंधर
O Partha, mighty-armed, pillar of the Pandavas,
युधिष्ठिर उवाच केयं गोद्वादशी नाम विधानं तत्र कीदृशम्
Yudhishthira said: What is this so-called Govatsa Dvadashi, and what is its procedure?
एतत्सर्वं हरे ब्रूहि पाहि मां नरकार्णवात्
Tell me all this, O Hari, save me from the ocean of hell.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच तपश्चचार विपुलं नामव्रतधरा गिरौ
Shri Krishna said: The vow-holder performed great austerity on the mountain.
हर्षेण महताविष्टा दैवदर्शनकांक्षया
Filled with great joy, desiring a vision of the divine,
पारियात्रे सिद्धपात्रे रम्ये तंदुलिकाश्रमे
In the beautiful Tamduli hermitage, in the Siddhapata region of the Pariyatra mountains,
तापसारण्यमतुलं दिव्यकाननमंडितम् 4.69.
In the unparalleled ascetic forest, adorned with divine groves,
वल्कलाजिनसंवीतेर्भृगोराश्रममंडलम्
Within the circle of Bhrigu's hermitage, clothed in bark and skins,
प्रशांतसिंहहरिणं सर्ववस्तुगतद्रुमम्
Peaceful lions and deer, all kinds of creatures, and trees were present.
सिंहव्याघ्रगजैर्भिन्नं हरिणैः शबरैः शशैः
It was divided by lions, tigers, elephants, deer, tribal people, and hares.
तपस्यता तत्र तेषां मुनीनां दर्शनार्थिनाम्
While those sages were engaged in austerities there, desiring a vision,
बभूव ब्राह्मणो वृद्धो जरापांडुरमूर्द्धजः उमापि चक्रे गोरूपं शृणु तत्पार्थ यादृशम्
an aged Brahmin appeared, his hair white with old age; and Uma too assumed the form of a cow—listen, O Partha, to how it was.
क्षीरोदतोयसंभूता याः पुरामृतमंथने
Those who were born from the ocean of milk, at the time of the ancient churning for nectar,
नन्दा सुभद्रा सुरभी सुशीला बहुला इति
Nandā, Subhadrā, Surabhī, Suśīlā, and Bahulā—these,
जमदग्निभारद्वाजवशिष्ठासितगौतमाः
Jamadagni, Bhāradvāja, Vasiṣṭha, Aṣita, and Gautama,
गोमयं रोचना मूत्रं क्षीरं दधि घृतं गवाम्
Cow dung, yellow pigment, urine, milk, curd, and ghee—all these are of the cow.
गोमयादुत्थितः श्रीमान्बिल्ववृक्षः शिवप्रियः बीजान्युत्पलपद्मानां पुनर्जातानि गोमयात् ।। 4.69.
From cow dung arose the auspicious bilva tree, dear to Shiva; and from cow dung again, the seeds of lotuses and water-lilies were produced.
गोरोचना च मांगल्या पवित्रा सर्वसाधिका आहारः सर्वदेवानां शिवस्य च विशेषतः
The yellow pigment from the cow is auspicious, pure, and surpasses all; it is the food of all the gods, especially of Shiva.
यद्बीजं जगतः किञ्चित्तज्ज्ञेयं क्षीरसंभवम् घृतादमृतमुत्पन्नं देवानां तृप्तिकारणम्
Whatever seed exists in the world should be known as originating from milk; from ghee, nectar arose, which is the cause of satisfaction for the gods.
ब्राह्मणाश्चैव गावश्च कुलमेकं द्विधा कृतम्
Brahmins and cows are one family, divided into two.
गोषु यज्ञाः प्रवर्तंते गोषु देवाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
Sacrifices are performed among cows; in cows, the gods are established.
शृङ्गमूले गवां नित्यं ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च संस्थितौ
At the root of the cow's horns, Brahma and Vishnu are always present.
शिवो मध्ये महादेवः सर्वकारणकारणम्
In the middle is Shiva, the great god, the cause of all causes.
कंबलाश्वतरौ नागौ नासापुटसमाश्रितौ
Kambala and Ashvatara, the two serpents, reside in the nostrils.
दंतेषु वसवः सर्वे जिह्वायां वरुणः स्थितः
All the Vasus are in the teeth, and Varuna is established on the tongue.
संध्याद्वयं तथेष्टाभ्यां ग्रीवायां च पुरंदरः
The two twilights, as well as the desired deities, are in the neck, and Purandara is there as well.
चतुष्पात्सकलो धर्मो नित्यं जंघासु तिष्ठति 4.69.
All righteousness abides always in the legs of the four-footed cow.
खुराणां पश्चिमे भागे राक्षसाः संप्रतिष्ठिताः
In the hind part of the hooves, the Rakshasas are established.
श्रोणीतटस्थाः पितरः कपोलेषु च मानवाः
The ancestors are situated at the sides of the hips, and humans upon the cheeks.
आदित्या रश्मयो वालाः पिण्डीभूता व्यवस्थिताः
The rays of the sun are the hairs, gathered together and arranged.