आदेशिको देशिको हि यममार्गे सुदुस्तरे
A guide, a teacher, is indeed needed on the very difficult path to Yama.
इष्टेन किं क्रतुशतेन सुदुष्करेण क्लेशाधिकेन सुकृतैर्नियमैर्व्रतैश्च
What is the use of a hundred sacrifices, extremely difficult, full of hardship, with good deeds, disciplines, and vows?
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे जलधेनुदानव्रतविधिवर्णनंनाम त्रिपंचाशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttaraparvan, in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, is the one hundred and fifty-third chapter, named 'Description of the Vow and Procedure for Giving the Water-Yielding Cow.'
घृतधेनुदानव्रतवर्णनम् दीयते येन विधिना यादृग्रूपां च कारयेत्
Description of the vow for giving the ghee-yielding cow: By what procedure it is given, and of what form it should be made.
गव्यस्य सर्पिषः कुम्भान्गंधमाल्यविभूषितान्
Jars of cow's ghee, adorned with fragrance, garlands, and ornaments,
इक्षुयष्टिमयाः पादाः खुरा रौप्यमयास्तथा
Legs made of sugarcane stalks, and hooves likewise made of silver.
सप्तधान्यमये पार्श्वे पटोर्णेन च कम्बलम्
On the side, made of seven kinds of grain, and with a cloth covering, place a blanket.
तद्वच्छर्करया जिह्वां गुडक्षीरमयं मुखम्
Likewise, with sugar, fashion the tongue, and with milk and jaggery, make the mouth.
ताम्रपात्रमयं पृष्ठं कुर्याच्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः
With a copper vessel, form the back, performing the act with faith.
तद्वत्कल्पनया धेनोर्वत्सं च परिकल्पयेत्
In the same manner, by arrangement, one should also create a calf for the cow.
आज्यं तेजः समुद्दिष्टमाज्यं पापहरं परम्
Clarified butter is declared to be brilliance; clarified butter is the supreme remover of sin.
त्वं चैवाज्यमयी देवि कल्पितासि मया किल
And you, O goddess, have indeed been fashioned by me as made of clarified butter.
तं च विप्रं महाभाग मनसेव घृतार्चिषा 4.154.
That blessed Brahmin should be mentally worshipped with the flame of ghee.
दक्षिणासहिता धेनुः कल्पिताज्यमयी शुभा
The cow, together with the prescribed gift, is auspicious and made of clarified butter.
इत्युदाहृत्य विप्राय तां गां तु प्रतिपादयेत्
Having recited thus, one should present that cow to the Brahmin.
अनेन च विधानेन नवनीतमयी शुभा
By this procedure, a cow made of fresh butter, auspicious, is also created.
शृणु पार्थ महाबाहो प्रदानफलमुत्तमम्
Hear, O Partha, mighty-armed one, the supreme fruit of giving.
घृतधेनुप्रदा यांति तत्र कामैः सुपूरिताः
Those who give the cow made of ghee attain fulfillment of desires there.
तांस्तेषु नृप लोकेषु स नयत्यस्तकल्मषान्
O king, he leads them in those worlds, free from impurity.
निष्किल्विषं पदं यांति निष्कामा घृतधेनुदाः
Those who give the ghee-cow without desire reach a sinless state.
घृतं प्रयच्छतां भीता भवंत्यखिलदेवताः
When ghee is given, all the gods become fearful.
मायाजलं सुतकलत्रमहोर्मिमालं लोभोग्रनक्रविषमं बहुपुण्यभाजः
The fortunate ones, blessed with much merit, cross the net of illusion, the garland of great waves of offspring and family, the poison of greed and crocodiles.
लवणधेनुदानव्रतवर्णनम् युधिष्ठिर उवाच कृष्णकृष्ण महाबाहो सर्वशास्त्रविशारद
Description of the vow of giving the salt-cow.
येन दत्तेन दानानि सर्वाण्येव भवंत्युत
By whatever is given, all gifts indeed become accomplished.
प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धिश्च तन्मे कथय सुव्रत शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि दानानामुत्तमोत्तमम्
O virtuous one, tell me about the purification by atonement; listen, O king, I will declare the highest of all gifts.
ख्यातं लवणधेन्वाख्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम्
It is renowned as the gift of the salt cow, which grants all desires to people.
विश्वासघाती क्रूरात्मा सर्वपापरतोऽपि वा
Even one who betrays trust, whose nature is cruel, or who is steeped in every sin,
सुभगो धनसंपन्नो दीर्घायुरपराजितः
Becomes fortunate, wealthy, long-lived, and unconquered.
विधिं वक्ष्यामि राजेन्द्र लवणस्येह कल्पनम्
O king, I will explain the procedure here for the preparation of the salt cow.
आविकं चर्म विन्यस्य पूर्वाशाभिमुखं स्थितम्
Place a sheep's skin facing east as the base.