यावन्ति तेषां वृक्षाणां पुष्पमूलफलानि च
As many as are the flowers, roots, and fruits of those trees,
तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि तेषां लोकेषु संस्थितिः
For that many thousands of aeons, his stay endures in those worlds.
यच्छ्रुतं त्वन्मुखांभोजाद्गामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
That supreme glory of the earth, which I have heard from your lotus mouth,
यस्याः संदर्शनादीनामीदृशं पुण्यमीरितम्
Of which such merit is declared from merely seeing and so forth,
तथा कथयविप्रेन्द्र भक्ताहं तव सर्वदा
Therefore, O foremost of twice-born, tell me more, for I am always your devotee.
वेदागमानां तत्त्वज्ञः स्मयमान उवाच ह
The knower of the essence of the Vedas and Āgamas, smiling, spoke thus:
गुडधेनुविधानं च यथा शास्त्रे प्रकीर्तितम्
The procedure for the cow made of jaggery, as proclaimed in the scriptures,
गोमयेनोपलिप्तायां कुशानास्तीर्य यत्नतः
On a spot smeared with cow dung, carefully spreading kuśa grass,
उत्तमा गुडधेनुस्तु चतुर्भारैः प्रकीर्तिता
The best molasses-cow is said to be of four loads.
अर्द्धभारेण वत्सः स्यात्कनिष्ठा भारकेण तु
The calf is considered half a load, and the youngest, just a small weight.
प्रभुः प्रथमकल्पस्य यो ऽनुकल्पेन वर्तयेत्
The master of the first type should conduct himself according to the secondary rule.
धेनुवत्सौ घृतस्यैतौ सितश्लक्ष्णांबरावृतौ
These two, cow and calf for ghee, should be covered with white, smooth garments.
सितसूत्रशिरालौ च सितकंबलकंबलौ
With white-threaded heads and white woolen blankets.
विद्रुमक्रमगो पेतौ नवनीतस्तनान्वितौ
Adorned with coral necklaces, both having udders full of fresh butter.
सुवर्णशृङ्गाभरणौ शुद्धरौप्यखुरावुभौ
With golden horn-ornaments and pure silver hooves, both of them.
इत्येवं रचयित्वा तु धूपदीपैरथार्चयेत्
Having arranged them in this way, one should then worship with incense and lamps.
धेनुरूपेण सा देवी मम शान्तिं प्रयच्छतु
May that goddess in the form of a cow grant me peace.
धेनुरूपेण सा देवी मम पापं व्यपोहतु
May that goddess in the form of a cow remove my sin.
चन्द्रार्कशक्रशक्तिर्या धेनुरूपास्तु सा श्रिये
She who is the power of the moon, sun, and Indra—may she in cow form bring me prosperity.
लक्ष्मीर्या लोकपालानां सा धेनुर्वरदास्तु मे
She who is Lakshmi for the guardians of the worlds—may that wish-granting cow be mine.
सर्वपापहरा धेनुः सा मे शान्तिं प्रयच्छतु
May that cow, remover of all sins, grant me peace.
विधानमेतद्धेनूनां सर्वासामिह पठ्यते
This is the procedure for all cows, as recited here.
तासां स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि शास्त्रोकं शृणु मोहिनि
I will now describe their forms, as stated in the scriptures; listen, O Mohini.
तिलधेनुस्तृतीया च चतुर्थी जलसंज्ञिता
The third is the sesame-cow, and the fourth is called the water-cow.
सप्तमी शर्कराधेनुर्दधिधेनुस्तथाष्टमी
The seventh is the sugar-cow, and likewise, the eighth is the curd-cow.
कुंभाः स्युर्द्रवधेनूनां चेतरासां तु राशयः
For the liquid cows, they are measured in jars; for the others, by heaps.
नवनीतेन तैलेन तथा के ऽपि महर्षयः
Some great sages also use fresh butter and oil in this manner.
मन्त्रावाहनसंयुक्ताः सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि
They are always accompanied by the invocation of mantras, performed at every festival.
अनेकयज्ञफलदाः सर्वपापहराः शुभाः
They grant the fruits of many sacrifices, remove all sins, and are auspicious.
युगादौ चैव मन्वादौ चोपरागादिपर्वसु
At the beginning of an era, at the start of a Manu's reign, and during eclipses and other festivals,