यदा वा जायते चित्तं वित्तं च कुरुनन्दन
Or, O descendant of the Kurus, whenever one feels inspired in mind or has the means.
सुपयोधरशोभाढ्या सुशृंगी सुखुरा तथा
She should be endowed with beautiful, full udders, fine horns, and a pleasing tail.
सुवर्णशृङ्गतिलका घंटाभरणभूषिता
She should have golden-tipped horns and be adorned with bell ornaments.
पिण्याकपिटिकोपेता सहिरण्या च शक्तितः
She should be provided with a cake of oil-cake and molasses, and, according to one's ability, with gold.
पुराणपाठके तद्वज्ज्योतिःशास्त्रविदे तथा
This should be given to a reciter of the Purāṇas or, likewise, to one learned in astrology.
द्रव्यैरेभिः समायुक्तां पुण्येऽह्नि विधिपूर्वकम्
She should be endowed with these articles and given on an auspicious day, following the prescribed rites.
इन्द्रादिलोकपालानां या राजमहिषी शुभा
She is like the auspicious royal cow of the guardians of the worlds, such as Indra.
धर्मराजस्य साहाय्ये यस्याः पुत्रः प्रतिष्ठितः 4.162.
By whose assistance the son of the Lord of Dharma is established.
(इति दानमंत्रः) दद्यात्प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य ब्राह्मणे तां पयस्विनीम्
Having circumambulated, one should give that milch buffalo to a Brahmin.
एवं दत्त्वा विधानेन ब्राह्मणस्य गृहं नयेत्
Having given in this prescribed manner, one should accompany the Brahmin to his house.
संपादिता मया तुभ्यं संतुष्टो मे भव द्विज
I have accomplished this for you; be pleased with me, O twice-born.
अनेन विधिना दत्त्वा महिषीं द्विजपुङ्गवे
Having given a she-buffalo to the foremost of Brahmins in this way,
या सा ददाति महिषीं सा राजमहिषी भवेत्
She who gives a she-buffalo becomes the chief queen.
यज्ञयाजी भवेद्विप्रः क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत्
The Brahmin becomes a performer of sacrifices, the Kshatriya becomes victorious.
तस्मान्नरेण दातव्या महिषी विभवे सति
Therefore, a man should give a she-buffalo if he has the means.
दशधेनुसमां राजन्महिषीं नारदोऽब्रवीत्
Nārada said, O king, a she-buffalo is equal to ten cows.
सगरेण ककुत्स्थेन धुंधुमारेण गाधिना
By Sagara, Kakutstha, Dhumdhumara, and Gadhi,
महिषी दानमाहात्म्यं यः शृणोति सदा नरः 4.162.
Whoever always hears the greatness of giving a she-buffalo,
दुग्धाधिकां हि महिषीं जलमेघवर्णां सपुष्टपट्टकवतीं जघनाभिरामाम्
A she-buffalo with abundant milk, of the color of water-laden clouds, adorned with a strong cloth, and with beautiful hips.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे महिषीदानव्रतविधिवर्णनं नाम द्विषष्टयुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and sixty-second chapter, named 'Description of the Vow and Procedure for Giving a She-Buffalo,' in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, in the Uttara Parva of the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa.
अविदानव्रतविधिवर्णनम् यद्दत्त्वा त्रिविधं पापं सद्यो विलयमृच्छति
Description of the procedure for the vow of not giving: By giving this, one’s threefold sin is immediately destroyed.
सुवर्णरोमां सौवर्णीं प्रत्यक्षं वा सुशोभनाम्
One with golden hair, made of gold, or visibly beautiful.
कौशेयपरिधानां च दिव्यचंदनभूषिताम् सप्तधान्यसमायुक्तां फलपुष्पवतीं तथा
Clad in silk garments, adorned with divine sandalwood, furnished with seven kinds of grains, and bearing fruits and flowers.
शतेन कारयेत्तां च सुवर्णस्य प्रयत्नतः
One should have it made with a hundred pieces of gold, with great care.
अयने विषुवे चैव ग्रहणे शशिसूर्ययोः
At the solstice, at the equinox, and during the eclipses of the moon and sun,
यदा वा जायते वित्तं चित्तं श्रद्धासमन्वितम्
Or whenever wealth arises, and the mind is endowed with faith.
दद्यात्तीर्थे गृहे वापि यत्र वा रमते मनः
One should give (the gift) at a sacred place, at home, or wherever the mind finds delight.
तत्र संस्थाप्य देवेशमुमया सह शंकरम्
There, one should install the Lord of gods, Śaṅkara, together with Umā.
रत्या सह तथानंगं लोकपालान्ग्रहानपि
With Rati and Ananga, as well as the guardians of the worlds and the planets.
तदग्रे कारयेद्धोमं तिलाज्येन महीपते 4.163.
In front of them, O King, one should have a fire offering performed with sesame and ghee.