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,
न त्वेवेदं दानमात्रं प्रशस्तं पात्रं कालो गोविशेषो विघिश्च
But merely giving is not praiseworthy; the recipient, the time, the quality of the cow, and the ritual purity—all these must be considered.
एकापि गौर्बहुगुणा गुणिने प्रदत्ता दातुः कुलं त्रिपुरुषं विधिवत्पुनाति
Even a single cow, if endowed with many virtues and given to a worthy person, properly purifies the donor's lineage for three generations.
वृषभदानव्रतवर्णनम् thumb|500px|ओंकारेश्वर क्षेत्रे नन्दिनः प्रतिमानि। प्रतिमा बाह्यमुखी अथवा अन्तर्मुखी अस्ति। न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि जातं कौतूहलं हि मे
Description of the vow of gifting a bull: In the sacred place of Omkareshvara, there are images of Nandi, facing outward or inward. I do not feel satisfied; indeed, my curiosity has arisen.
गोपतिः किल गोविन्दस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः
It is said that Govinda, the lord of cows, is renowned in the three worlds.
तद्गोवृषभदानस्य फलं मे कथायाच्युत श्रीकृष्ण उवाच वृषदानफलं पुण्यं शृणुष्व कथयामि ते
O Achyuta, tell me the fruit of gifting a bull. Sri Krishna said: Listen, I will tell you the meritorious result of giving a bull.
पवित्रं पावनं चैव सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम् दशधेनुप्रदानाद्धि स एवैको विशिष्यते
It is pure and purifying, and indeed the highest among all gifts; the gift of a single bull surpasses even the giving of ten cows.
यो हृष्टश्चातिपुष्टांगो ह्यरोगः पांडुनन्दन
O son of Pandu, whoever gives a bull that is joyful, very strong, and free from disease—
धुरंधरः स्थापयते एक एव कुलं महत्
—a bull fit for bearing burdens—such a one establishes a great lineage.
अलंकृत्य वृषं शांतं पुण्यकाल उपस्थिते
Having adorned a peaceful bull at an auspicious time—
मंत्रेणानेन राजेन्द्र तं शृणुष्व वदामि ते
With this mantra, O king, listen as I tell you.