कन्याप्रदानवर्णनम् ( अथ कन्यादानम्) सप्तपूर्वान्भविष्यांश्च स्वकुले सप्त मानवान्
By giving a maiden in marriage, one uplifts seven ancestors and seven descendants in one's own lineage.
तेन कन्याप्रदानेन स तारयत्यसंशयम्
By that act of giving a maiden, he certainly delivers them, without doubt.
प्राजापत्येन विधिना आत्मानं च समुद्धरेत्
By the prescribed rite of Prajāpati, he also uplifts himself.
भूगवाश्वप्रदानानि गजदानं तथैव च
The gifts of land, cows, horses, and likewise elephants—
बहुवर्षसहस्राणि पुरीषं काकमश्नुते
For many thousands of years, one eats filth like a crow.
बहून्यब्दसहस्राणि तथा अशुचिभुङ्नरः
For many thousands of years, likewise, a man eats what is impure.
दत्त्वा चाधिकवर्णाय द्विगुणं निर्गुणं तथा
But by giving to one of higher varṇa, the merit is doubled, even if the recipient is without qualities.
चूडोपनयाद्यैश्च सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
By the ceremonies of tonsure and initiation, one attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
कन्यया सह दत्तं च सुवर्णं वह्निमूलकम्
Gold given with the maiden, along with fire as the witness—
कन्यादानादवाप्नोति दक्षलोकं नरोत्तम 4.148.
From the gift of a maiden, O best of men, one attains the world of Dakṣa.
विमानमाहृत्य मनोभिरामं सुराङ्गनागीतविलासहृद्यम्
He obtains a splendid aerial chariot, delightful to the mind, enchanting with the songs and play of celestial maidens.
ब्राह्मणशुश्रूषाविधिवर्णनम् ब्राह्मणेभ्यः परं नास्ति नास्ति भूतं जगत्त्रये
There is nothing higher than the Brāhmaṇas, nor has there been, in all the three worlds.
अदेवं दैवतं कुर्युः कुर्युर्देवमदैवतम्
They may make what is not divine into a deity, and make a deity into what is not divine.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समुत्पन्ना देवाः पूर्वमिति स्मृतिः
It is remembered that the gods themselves were originally born from the Brāhmaṇas.
येषामश्नंति वक्त्रेण देवताः पितरस्तथा
The gods and ancestors eat through their mouths.
यदैव मनुजो भक्त्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति
Whenever a man, with devotion, gives to the Brāhmaṇas—
तालवृंतानिलेनैव श्रांतसंवाहनेन च
By fanning with a palm leaf and by massaging the weary limbs,
पादशौचप्रदानेन पादयोः सेचनेन च
By offering water for washing the feet and by sprinkling the feet,
अनिष्ट्वापि समाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च शाश्वतम्
Even without performing sacrifice, one attains the eternal heavenly realm.
यद्ब्राह्मणास्तुष्टिमन्तो वदंति प्रत्यक्षदेवेषु परोक्षदेवाः
Whatever pleases the Brahmins, they declare: the visible gods are the Brahmins, the invisible are the deities.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे ब्राह्मणशुश्रूषाविधिवर्णनं नामैकोनपंचा शदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana, in the Uttaraparva, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Yudhishthira, the description of the duties of service to Brahmins, the one hundred and fifty-fifth chapter.
वृषदानविधिवर्णनम् न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि जातं कौतूहलं हि मे
I do not attain satisfaction; curiosity has arisen in me.
गोपतिः किल गोविन्दस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः
Govinda, the lord of cows, is renowned in the three worlds.
तस्माद्गोवृषकल्पस्य विधानं कथयाच्युत
Therefore, O Achyuta, tell me the procedure for the cow and bull rite.
पवित्रं पावनं चैव सर्वदानोत्तमं तथा
It is pure, purifying, and indeed the highest among all gifts.
दशधेनुसमोऽनड्वानेकश्चैव धुरंधरः
A bull equal to ten cows, uncastrated, and a bearer of burdens,
वोढा च चारुपृष्ठांगो ह्यरोगः पांडुनंदन
One who carries, whose body is beautiful, who is free from disease, O son of Pandu,
धुरंधरः स्थापयते एक एव कुलं महत्
A bearer of burdens alone sustains a great family.
अलंकृत्य वृषं शांतं पुण्येह्नि समुपस्थिते
Having adorned the tranquil bull when a sacred day arrives,
मंत्रेणानेन राजेन्द्र तं शृणुष्व वदामि ते
With this mantra, O king, listen as I tell you.