अभिषेकस्समस्तेषां गवां शृंगोदकस्य च। प्रातरुत्थाय यो मर्त्यः स्पृशेद्गां च घृतं मधु१५० 1.48.
The consecration with water from a cow's horn is equal to all of these; whoever, rising early in the morning, touches a cow, clarified butter, and honey—
सर्षपांश्च प्रियंगूंश्च कल्मषात्प्रतिमुच्यते। घृतक्षीरप्रदा गावो घृतयोन्यो घृतोद्भवाः
And also mustard seeds and priyangu seeds—is freed from sin; cows give ghee and milk, are born from ghee, and arise from ghee.
घृतनद्यो घृतावर्तास्ता मे संतु सदा गृहे। घृतं मे सर्वगात्रेषु घृतं मे मनसि स्थितम्
May rivers of ghee and whirlpools of ghee always be in my home; may ghee be present in all my limbs, may ghee be established in my mind.
गावो ममाग्रतो नित्यं गावः पृष्ठत एव च। गावश्च सर्वगात्रेषु गवांमध्ये वसाम्यहम्
May cows always be before me, and cows behind me as well; may cows be in all my limbs, and may I dwell among cows.
इत्याचम्य जपेन्मंत्रं सायंप्रातरिदं शुचिः। सर्वपापक्षयस्तस्य स्वर्लोके पूजितो भवेत्
Having thus performed purification, one should recite this mantra in the evening and morning, being pure; all his sins are destroyed, and he is honored in the heavenly world.
यथा गौश्च तथा विप्रो यथाविप्रस्तथा हरिः। हरिर्यथा तथा गंगा एतेन ह्यवृषाः स्मृताः
As the cow, so the brāhmaṇa; as the brāhmaṇa, so Hari; as Hari, so the Gaṅgā—by this, they are all considered pure.
गावो बंधुर्मनुष्याणां मनुष्या बांधवा गवाम्। गौश्च यस्मिन्गृहे नास्ति तद्बंधुरहितं गृहम्
Cows are the relatives of humans, and humans are the relatives of cows; a house where there is no cow is a house devoid of kin.
गोमुखे चाश्रिता वेदाः सषडंगपदक्रमाः। शृंगयोश्च स्थितौ नित्यं सहैव हरिकेशवौ
In the mouth of the cow reside the Vedas, with their six limbs and proper sequence; and on the two horns always dwell Hari and Keśava together.
उदरेऽवस्थितः स्कंदः शीर्षे ब्रह्मा स्थितः सदा। वृषद्ध्वजो ललाटे च शृंगाग्र इंद्र एव च
Within the belly abides Skanda, and on the head Brahmā always resides; the one with the bull banner is on the forehead, and Indra is at the tip of the horns.
कर्णयोरश्विनौ देवौ चक्षुषोश्शशिभास्करौ। दंतेषु गरुडो देवो जिह्वायां च सरस्वती
On the ears are the two Aśvins, gods; in the eyes, the moon and sun; in the teeth, the god Garuḍa; on the tongue, Sarasvatī.
अपाने सर्वतीर्थानि प्रस्रावे चैव जाह्नवी। ऋषयो रोमकूपेषु मुखतः पृष्ठतो यमः
In the lower organ are all the sacred waters, and in the flow, the Gaṅgā; in the hair follicles are the sages, and at the mouth and back is Yama.
धनदो वरुणश्चैव दक्षिणं पार्श्वमाश्रितौ। वामपार्श्वे स्थिता यक्षास्तेजस्वंतो महाबलाः
On the right side dwell Kubera and Varuṇa; on the left side stand the Yakṣas, powerful and mighty.
मुखमध्ये च गंधर्वा नासाग्रे पन्नगास्तथा। खुराणां पश्चिमे पार्श्वेऽप्सरसश्च समाश्रिताः
In the middle of the mouth are the Gandharvas, and at the tip of the nose are the serpents; on the hind side of the hooves are the Apsarases established.
गोमये वसते लक्ष्मीर्गोमूत्रे सर्वमंगला। पादाग्रे खेचरा वेद्या हंभाशब्दे प्रजापतिः
In cow dung dwells Lakṣmī, in cow urine all auspiciousness; at the tips of the feet are the celestial beings, and in the sound 'hambhā' is Prajāpati.
चत्वारः सागराः पूर्णा धेनूनां च स्तनेषु वै। गां च स्पृशति यो नित्यं स्नातो भवति नित्यशः
The four full oceans are in the udders of cows; whoever touches a cow daily is always purified.
अतो मर्त्यः प्रपुष्टैस्तु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। गवां रजः खुरोद्धूतं शिरसा यस्तु धारयेत्
Therefore, a mortal is freed from all sins by the dust raised by the hooves of cows, if he bears it upon his head.
स च तीर्थजले स्नातः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। नारद उवाच-। गवां च दशवर्णानां कस्य दाने च किंफलम्
He who bathes in the waters of a sacred place is freed from all sins. Narada said: Of cows of ten colors, what is the fruit of giving each? Tell me the truth, O best of teachers, if it pleases the Supreme Lord.
ब्रूहि तत्त्वं गुरुश्रेष्ठ परमेष्ठिन्प्रियं यदि। ब्रह्मोवाच-। श्वेतां गां ब्राह्मणे दत्वा मानवश्चेश्वरो भवेत्
Brahma said: By giving a white cow to a Brahmin, a man becomes a lord; he dwells always in a palace and enjoys happiness.
प्रासादे वसते नित्यं भोगी च सुखमेधते। धूम्रा तु स्वर्गकांतार संसारे पापमोक्षिणी
A smoky-colored cow leads to heaven and removes sin in the world. A tawny cow grants inexhaustible merit; by giving a black cow, one does not fall.
अक्षयं कपिलादानं कृष्णां दत्वा न सीदति। पांडुरा दुर्लभा लोके गौरी च कुलनंदिनी
A pale cow is rare in the world; a fair cow delights the lineage. A red-eyed cow is for one desiring beauty; a blue one for one desiring wealth. By giving a single tawny cow, one is freed from all sins.
रक्ताक्षी रूपकामस्य धनकामस्य नीलिका। एकां च कपिलां दत्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Whatever sin was committed in childhood, youth, or old age—by speech, action, or thought—
यत्तु बाल्यकृतं पापं यौवने वार्धके कृतम्। वाचाकृतं कर्मकृतं मनसा यत्प्रचिंतितं
Sin arising from forbidden relations, betrayal of friends, false weights, false measures, falsehood about maidens or cows—
अगम्यागमनं चैव मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्। मानकूटं तुलाकूटं कन्यानृतं गवानृतम्
All this is quickly destroyed by one who gives a tawny cow. There is a great river, ten yojanas wide.
सर्वं च नाशयेत्क्षिप्रं कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति। दशयोजनविस्तीर्णा महापारा महानदी
There are waters in the midst of the ocean, and as long as the calf's two feet and mouth are not yet formed,
नारा च जलकांतारे प्रसृते चोदकार्णवे। यावद्वत्सस्य द्वौ पादौ मुखं यावन्न जायते
So long is the cow to be considered as the earth, until she releases her calf. One adorned with golden horns, rich in cloth, adorned with all ornaments,
तावद्गौः पृथिवी ज्ञेया यावद्गर्भं न मुंचति। सुवर्णशृंगीं वस्त्राढ्यां सर्वालंकारभूषिताम्
With a copper-colored back, silver hooves, and a milking vessel of bronze, adorned with fragrant flowers and all ornaments,
ताम्रपृष्ठीं रौप्यखुरां तथा कांस्योपदोहनाम्। शोभितां गंधपुष्पैश्च सर्वालंकारभूषितां
Such a tawny cow should be given to a twice-born knower of the Veda. All his sins are destroyed, and he becomes unshaken in the world of Vishnu.
ईदृशीं कपिलां दद्याद्द्विजातौ वेदपारगे। सर्वपापक्षयस्तस्य विष्णुलोकेऽच्युतो भवेत्
When she is milked, drops fall upon the earth, and from them arise gardens and groves, rich in many excellent flowers and fruits.
तस्यां तु दुह्यमानायां भूमौ पतंति बिंदवः। आरामादि विजायंते बहुपुष्पफलोत्तमाः
There, trees bear fruits as desired, rivers flow with milk and mud, and golden palaces exist—there go those who give cows.
यत्र कामफला वृक्षा नद्यः पायसकर्दमाः। प्रासादाश्चापि सौवर्णास्तत्र गच्छंति गोप्रदाः
He who gives ten cows and one strong bull receives the same fruit, as declared by Brahma.