सर्वकामसमृद्धश्च शत्रुपक्षक्षयंकरः
He becomes endowed with all desired enjoyments and brings about the destruction of enemy forces.
इति सकलविधिज्ञो रत्नधेनुप्रदानं वितरति स विमानं प्राप्य देदीप्यमानम्
Thus, the one who knows all the rites and gives the jeweled cow attains a radiant celestial chariot.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे रत्नधेनुदानव्रतविधिवर्णनं नाम सप्तपंचाशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred fifty-seventh chapter, named 'Description of the Rite of Giving the Jeweled Cow,' in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, in the Uttara Parva of the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa.
उभयमुखीगोदानव्रतवर्णनम् विधिना केन धर्मज्ञं दाने तस्याश्च किं फलम्
The description of the vow of gifting a cow with two mouths: By what procedure, O knower of dharma, is this gift made, and what is its fruit?
प्राप्नुवंति नराः केचित्पुण्यसंभारविस्तराः
Some men attain vast accumulations of merit.
यावत्पादौ योनिगतौ शिरश्चैव प्रदृश्यते
As long as the feet are in the womb and the head is visible.
गौर्यावद्द्विमुखी चैव यदा भवति भारत
O Bhārata, when a cow becomes two-faced, that is, when she turns away from Gaurī.
दत्त्वोभयमुखीं राजन्यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते नृभिः
By giving a cow with both faces, the merit obtained by men is like that of a king.
किमिष्टैर्बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्दानैर्दत्तैश्च सत्तम
O noble one, what is the use of many sacrifices, gifts, and donations?
एकैव पाति नरकात्सुखमेकैव कारयेत्
A single cow alone saves from hell; a single one alone brings happiness.
स्वर्णशृंगीं रौप्यखुरां मुक्तालाङ्गूलभूषिताम् प्रसूयमानां गां दत्त्वा महत्पुण्यफलं लभेत्
By giving a cow with golden horns, silver hooves, and a tail adorned with pearls, one attains a great reward of merit.
यावंति धेनुरोमाणि वत्सस्यापि नराधिप
O ruler of men, as many hairs as are on a cow, and even on her calf—
पितॄन्पितामहांश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहान् 4.158.
—so many ancestors, fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers are likewise (benefited).
घृतक्षीरवहा नद्यो दधिपायसकर्दमाः
Rivers flowing with ghee and milk, and those filled with curds, milk, and mud—
यो ददाति सुवर्णेन बहुना सह भाविनीम्
Whoever gives a fruitful cow along with much gold—
न देया दुर्बला राजन्धेनुर्नैवाल्पदक्षिणा
O king, a weak cow should not be given, nor one with a meager gift.
स्त्रियश्च त चंद्रसमानवक्त्राः प्रतप्तजांबूनदतुल्यवर्णाः
And women whose faces are like the moon, whose complexion is incomparable to refined gold—
गोसहस्रप्रदानविधिवर्णनम् कस्मिन्काले प्रदातव्यं कथं देयं च तद्भवेत्
Description of the rite of giving a thousand cows: At what time should it be given, and how should it be done?
ब्रह्मणा सृजता लोकान्वृत्तिहेतोः प्रजेश्वर
O lord of people, when Brahmā created the worlds for the sake of sustenance—
यासां मूत्रपुरीषेण देवतायतनान्यपि
By whose urine and dung even the abodes of the gods are (purified)—
मूलं यज्ञस्य काम्यस्य सर्वदेवमयाः शुभाः
They are the root of the desired sacrifice, auspicious, and embody all the gods.
ब्राह्मणाश्चैव गावश्च कुलमेकं द्विधा कृतम्
Brāhmaṇas and cows are one family, divided in two.
यासां पुत्रैर्धृता लोका धारिताः सर्वदेवताः
By whose offspring the worlds are supported, and all the gods are upheld.
एकाऽपि गौर्गुणोपेता कृत्स्नं तारयते कुलम्
Even a single cow endowed with virtues delivers the entire family.
सुवत्सा सुदुहा चैव पापरोगविवर्जिता
She is a good calf, gives abundant milk, and is free from sinful diseases.
किं पुनर्दश यो दद्याच्छतं वा विधिपूर्वकम्
What then of one who gives ten, or a hundred, in accordance with the prescribed rite?
गोसहस्रं पुरा दत्तं नहुषेण महीभृता 4.159.
A thousand cows were formerly given by Nahusha, the king.
गंगातीरे महद्दत्तमदित्या पुत्रकाम्यया
A great gift was made on the banks of the Ganga, by Aditya, desiring sons.
श्रूयते पितृभिर्गीता गाथास्ताः शृणु भूपते
It is heard that the ancestors sang those verses; listen to them, O king.
यदि कश्चित्कुलेऽस्माकं गोसहस्रं प्रदापयेत्
If someone in our lineage should cause a thousand cows to be given,