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.
दशधेनूश्च यो दद्यादेकं चैव धुरंधरं। समानं तु फलं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम्
If one gives one bull with ten cows, he obtains the fruit of a hundred thousand. According to this, O Narada, the result should be understood with care.
एकं च दशभिर्दद्यात्सहस्राणां शतं फलम्। तस्यानुसारतो वेद्यं फलं नारद यत्नतः
If a son, for the sake of his ancestors, releases a bull on earth, the ancestors are honored in the worlds of Vishnu as they desire.
पितॄनुद्दिश्य यः पुत्रो वृषं च मोक्षयेद्भुवि। पितरो विष्णुलोकेषु महीयंते यथेप्सितम्
Four heifers and one bull—by these, all are liberated, O son. This is the eternal ordinance.
चतस्रो वत्सतर्यश्च एकस्यैव वृषस्य च। मोक्ष्यंते सर्वतः पुत्र विधिरेष सनातनः
Four cows and their calves, and also a single bull, O son, are to be released in all directions; this is the eternal ordinance.
यावंति चैव रोमाणि तस्य तासां च सर्वशः। तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गं भुजंति मानवाः
For as many hairs as are on its body, for each and every one, humans enjoy heaven for that many thousands of years.
लांगूलेन वृषो यच्च जलं चोत्क्षिपति ध्रुवं। तत्तोयं तु सहस्राब्दं पितॄणाममृतं भवेत्
Whatever water the bull raises with its tail, that water certainly becomes nectar for the ancestors for a thousand years.
खुरेण कर्षयेद्भूमिं ततो लोष्ठं च कर्दमः। पितृभ्यश्च स्वधा तत्र लक्षकोटिगुणं भवेत्
When the bull tills the earth with its hoof, and mud or clod is produced, that becomes an offering to the ancestors, multiplied a hundred million times.
विद्यमाने च जनके यदि माता विनश्यति। चंदनेनांकिता धेनुस्तस्याः स्वर्गाय दीयते
If the mother dies while the father is still living, a cow marked with sandalwood is given for her sake to attain heaven.
दाता चैव पितॄणां च ऋणं चैव प्रमुंचति। अक्षयं लभते स्वर्गं पूजितो मघवा यथा
The giver is released from the debt to the ancestors and attains inexhaustible heaven, honored like Indra.
सर्वलक्षणसंयुक्ता तरुणा गौः पयस्विनी। समाप्रसूतिका भद्रा सा च गौः पृथिवी स्मृता
A cow possessing all auspicious marks, young, yielding milk, who has calved only once, and is gentle—such a cow is regarded as the earth itself.
तस्य दानेन मंत्रस्य पृथ्वीदानसमं फलं। शतक्रतुसमो मर्त्यः कुलमुद्धरते शतं
By giving such a cow with the proper mantra, one obtains the same merit as giving the earth; a mortal becomes equal to Indra and uplifts a hundred generations of his lineage.
गवां च हरणं कृत्वा मृते गोरथवत्सके। क्रिमिपूर्णे स कूपे च तिष्ठेदाभूतसंप्लवं
Having stolen cows, or killed a cow or her calf, one must remain in a well filled with worms until the end of the age of destruction.
गवां चैव वधं कृत्वा पितृभिः सह पच्यते। रौरवे नरके घोरे तावत्कालं प्रतिक्रिया
Having killed a cow, one is cooked together with the ancestors in the dreadful hell called Raurava for as long as the consequence endures.
गोप्रचारप्रभग्नश्च षंडवाहनबंधनः। अक्षयं नरकं प्रायान्पुनर्जन्मनि जन्मनि
One who destroys the pasture of cows, or binds the bull of the herd, goes to unending hell, being reborn again and again.
सकृच्च श्रावयेद्यस्तु कथां पुण्यतमामिमां। सर्वपापक्षयस्तस्य देवैश्च सह मोदते
Whoever even once causes this most holy story to be heard, all his sins are destroyed and he rejoices together with the gods.
य इदं शृणुयाद्वापि परं पुण्यतमं महत्। सप्तजन्मकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते तत्क्षणेन हि
Whoever hears this most holy and great account is freed at that very moment from sins accumulated over seven births.
एकोनपञ्चाशोऽध्यायः । नारद उवाच- केनाचारेण विप्रस्य ब्रह्मतेजो विवर्धते। केनाचारेण तस्यैव ब्राह्मं तेजो विनश्यति
Chapter Forty-Nine. Narada said: By what conduct does a brahmin's spiritual radiance increase? And by what conduct does that very brahmin's radiance diminish?
ब्रह्मोवाच-। शयनीयात्समुत्थाय रात्र्यंशे द्विजसत्तमः। देवांश्चैव स्मरेन्नित्यं तथा पुण्यवतो ध्रुवम्
Brahma said: Rising from bed at the end of night, the best of twice-born should always remember the gods, as well as the truly virtuous.
गोविंदं माधवं कृष्णं हरिं दामोदरं तथा। नारायणं जगन्नाथं वासुदेवमजं विभुम्
Govinda, Madhava, Krishna, Hari, Damodara, likewise Narayana, Lord of the Universe, Vasudeva, the unborn, the all-pervading—
सरस्वतीं महालक्ष्मीं सावित्रीं वेदमातरम्। ब्रह्माणं भास्करं चन्द्रं दिक्पालांश्च ग्रहांस्तथा
Sarasvati, Mahalakshmi, Savitri, mother of the Vedas, Brahma, the Sun, the Moon, the guardians of the directions, and also the planets—