नोपभोगैः क्षयं यांति न प्रदानैः समृद्धयः
Enjoyments do not exhaust it, nor does giving diminish prosperity.
अदृष्टपरतत्त्वोपि पात्रेभ्यो विसृजेद्धनम्
Even one who has not seen the highest truth should give wealth to the worthy.
दानानि बहुरूपाणि कथयामि तवानघ
O sinless one, I will tell you about the various kinds of gifts.
किञ्चिद्व्रतं यत्क्रियते पूज्यते च त्रिलोचनः
Whatever vow is performed, and when worship is offered, the three-eyed Lord is honored.
यानि दानानि देयानि तान्याचक्ष्य यदूत्तम
I will explain to you, best of the Yadus, which gifts should be given.
येन चैव विधानेन दानं पुण्यसुखावहम्
And by what procedure the giving of gifts brings merit and happiness.
आसप्तमं पुनंत्येते दोहवाहनवेदनैः
By means of offerings, vehicles, and knowledge, these purify up to the seventh generation.
गोदानमादौ वक्ष्यामि प्रत्यक्षक्रमयोगतः
First, I will describe the giving of cows, in the proper order and manner.
देयाः किंलक्षणा गावः काश्च राजन्विवर्जिताः 4.151.
What kind of cows should be given, and which are to be avoided, O King?
न्यायार्जिता सवत्सा च प्रदेया श्रोत्रियाय गौः
A cow that is lawfully acquired, with a calf, should be given to a learned Brahmin.
वृद्धा सरोगा हीनांगी वंध्या दुष्टा मृतप्रजा
Old, diseased, deformed, barren, wicked, or one whose calf has died—
सा दत्तैव हरेत्पापं श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये
Even if such a cow is given, she removes sin when given to a Brahmin who maintains the sacred fire.
अकुलीनाय मूर्खाय लुब्धाय पिशुनाय च
Not to one who is of low lineage, ignorant, greedy, or slanderous.
घृतक्षीराभिषेकं च कृत्वा विष्णोः शिवस्य च
After anointing with ghee and milk, to Vishnu and Shiva,
समभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायं पुष्पादिभिरनुक्रमात्
Having properly worshipped with flowers and other offerings in due order,
सवत्सां वस्त्रसंवीतां सितयज्ञोपवीतिनीम्
A cow with her calf, clothed in cloth, adorned with a white sacred thread,
शक्तितो दक्षिणायुक्तां ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्
With a gift according to one's ability, should be presented to a Brahmin.
अश्वं सदा सुकर्णे वा दासीं शिरसि दापयेत्
A horse with good ears, or a maidservant, should be given with reverence.
गावो मे हृदये संतु गवां मध्ये वसाम्यहम् 4.151.
May cows abide in my heart; among cows I dwell.
इमां च प्रतिगृह्णीष्व धेनुर्दत्ता मया तव
And this cow, given by me, you should accept.
अनुव्रजेच्च गच्छंतं पदान्यष्टौ नराधिप
If one follows a departing king for eight steps, O ruler of men,
सर्वकामसमृद्धात्मा स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति
with a mind fulfilled in all desires, he attains the world of heaven.
सप्त जन्मकृतात्पापान्मोचयत्यवनीपते
He frees himself from sins committed over seven births, O lord of the earth.
फलमाप्नोति राजेन्द्र दक्षायैवं जगौ हरिः
This is the fruit, O king of kings, as Hari thus spoke to Daksha.
भवत्यसौ पापहरा यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश
This act becomes a destroyer of sin for as long as the fourteen Indras exist.
प्रायश्चित्तमिदं प्रोक्तमनुतापोपबृंहितम्
This expiation has been declared, enhanced by repentance.
ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रैश्चान्यैश्च मानवैः
By Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and other humans,
गोभ्योधिकं जगति नापरमस्तिकिञ्चिद्दानं पवित्रमिति शास्त्रविदो वदंति
Those learned in scripture say: In this world, there is no gift purer than that of cows.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे प्रत्यक्षधेनुदानव्रत विधिवर्णनं नामैकपंचाशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and fifty-first chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Rite of Direct Cow-Giving,' in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Yudhishthira, in the Uttara Parva of the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana.
धेनुदानव्रतविधिवर्णनम् विशेषविधिना याश्च देयाः कामानभीप्सुभिः
Now, the description of the rite of cow-giving: those which are to be given with special procedures by those not desiring personal gain.