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,
दुहिता वा कुले काचिद्गोसहस्रप्रदायिनी
Or if some daughter in the family is a giver of a thousand cows,
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ञं वै सर्वकामिकम्
After this, I will declare the sacrifice that fulfills all desires.
तीर्थे गोष्ठे गृहे वापि मंडपं कारयेच्छुभम्
At a sacred place, in a cowshed, or at home, one should construct an auspicious pavilion.
तन्मध्ये कारयेद्वेदिं चतुर्हस्तामनूपमाम्
Within it, one should make an altar, four cubits in size and well-proportioned.
पूर्वोत्तरेऽथदिग्भागे ग्रहवेदिं प्रकल्पयेत्
In the eastern and northern part, one should arrange the planetary altar.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च पूज्याः प्रथममेव हि
Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra must be worshipped first.
चत्वारो वा महाराज उपाध्यायश्च पंचमः 4.159.
Or four, O great king, with the fifth being the preceptor.
शोभिताश्छत्रसंपन्नास्ताम्रपात्रद्वयान्विताः
They are adorned with umbrellas, equipped with two copper vessels.
वेद्याः पूर्वोत्तरे भागे शिवकुंडं नियोजयेत्
In the eastern and northern part of the altar, one should establish the Shiva-kunda.
कार्यं कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ ततो होमं समारभेत्
This should be done, O best of the Kurus; then one should begin the oblation.