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.
गोसहस्राद्विनिष्कृष्य सवत्सं दशकं गवाम् अतः प्रवेश्य दशकं वस्त्रैर्माल्यैश्च पूजयेत्
From the thousand cows, select ten with calves; then bring them in, and worship them with garments and garlands.
सुवर्णघंटिकायुक्तं ताम्रदोहनकान्वितम् हेमरत्नमयैः शृंगैश्चामरैश्चोपशोभितम्
With golden bells, copper milking vessels, horns of gold and jewels, and adorned with yak tails.
मुनयः केचिदिच्छन्ति कांचनं नंदिकेश्वरम्
Some sages desire the golden Nandikeśvara.
एका प्रत्यक्षऋषभे केषांचिद्दानमिष्यते
For some, a single bull is offered directly as a gift.
पताकाभिरलंकृत्य देवतायतनानि च
With flags adorning and also the shrines of the deities,
यदि सर्वा न विद्यन्ते गावः सर्वगुणोत्तमाः
If all are not present, cows possessing all excellent qualities,
पुष्पकालमथो वाद्यगीतमंगलनिस्वनैः इममुच्चारयेन्मंत्रं गृहीतकुसुमांजलिः ।। 4.159.
During the season of flowers, with auspicious sounds of music and song, one should recite this mantra, holding a handful of flowers.
नमो वो विश्वमूर्तिभ्यो विश्वमातृभ्य एव च
Salutations to you, embodiments of the universe, and also to you, mothers of the universe.
गवामंगेषु तिष्ठन्ति भुवनान्येकविंशतिः
Twenty-one worlds reside in the limbs of the cows.
गावो ममाग्रतः संतु गावो मे संतु पृष्ठतः
May cows be before me; may cows be behind me.
यस्मात्त्वं वृषरूपेण धर्मश्चैव सनातनः
Because you, in the form of the bull, are indeed the eternal Dharma,
इत्यामन्त्र्य ततो दयाद्गुरवे नंदिकेश्वरम्
Having thus addressed, then out of compassion, to the guru, Nandikeśvara,
गवां शतमथैकैकं तदर्धं चापि विंशतिः
A hundred cows, or each one, or even half of that, and twenty,
नैका बहुभ्यो दातव्या दाता दोषकरो भवेत्
One should not give a single cow to many; the giver becomes faulty.
पयोव्रतस्ततस्तिष्ठेदेकाहं गोसहस्रदः
Then, having given a thousand cows, one should observe the vow of milk for a day.
न देया दुर्बला धेनुर्नाल्पक्षीरा न रोगिणी
A weak cow, one with little milk, or one that is diseased should not be given.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु गोसहस्रप्रदो भवेत् ।। 4.159.
Whoever gives a thousand cows according to this procedure,
विमानेनार्कवर्णेन किंकिणीजालमालिना
In a celestial vehicle of solar hue, adorned with a net of bells,
सप्तावरान्सप्त परान्सप्त चैव परावरान्
Seven upper worlds, seven lower worlds, and seven intermediate worlds,
स्वर्गलोकाच्च्युतो वाथ नारी वा सत्परायणा
Whether fallen from the heavenly realm, or a woman devoted to righteousness,