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.
तल्लिङ्गमंत्रैर्होमश्च कर्तव्यो ज्वलितेऽनले
The fire offering should be performed with the mantras pertaining to that liṅga, in a blazing fire.
पूजयित्वा विधानेन मन्त्रमेतमुदीरयेत् जगतः संप्रवृद्धासि त्वामतः प्रार्थये स्थिताम्
Having worshipped according to the procedure, one should recite this mantra: 'You have grown over the world; therefore, I pray to you who are established.'
वाङ्मनःकायजनितं यत्किञ्चिन्मम दुष्कृतम्
Whatever wrong I have committed by speech, mind, or body—
एवमुच्चार्य तां दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय कुटुम्बिने
Having uttered thus, one should give (the gift) to a householder brāhmaṇa.
दुष्टप्रतिग्रहहतो विप्रो भवति पातकी
A brāhmaṇa who accepts a wicked gift becomes a sinner.
नो दद्याद्दक्षिणाहीनां दातव्या सा विधानतः
One should not give a gift without the prescribed offering; it must be given according to the rule.
पुरा दत्तमिदं दानं गौर्या शंकरकाम्यया
Formerly, this gift was given by Gaurī out of devotion to Śaṅkara.
नलेन दत्तमेतद्धि राज्यं कृत्वा दिवं गतः
This was given by Nala, who, having ruled the kingdom, went to heaven.
दानस्यास्य प्रभावेण पुत्रा बहुबलान्विताः 4.163.
By the power of this gift, his sons became endowed with great strength.
दत्त्वा दानं शुभां कांतिं विपुलां च तथा श्रियम् अहोरात्रकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Having given the gift, one attains auspicious radiance and abundant prosperity, and is freed from sins committed day and night—of this there is no doubt.