शृंगाग्रे सर्वतीर्थानि खुराग्रे सर्व पर्वताः
At the tip of their horns are all the sacred fords; at the tip of their hooves, all the mountains.
दीयमानां च गां दृष्ट्वा नृत्यंति प्रपितामहाः
Seeing a cow being given, the great-grandfathers dance with joy.
रोरूयंते च पापानि दारिद्र्यं व्याधिभिः सह 4.1.2.
Sins cry out and poverty, along with diseases, flee away.
गवां स्तुत्वा नमस्कृत्य कृत्वा चैव प्र दक्षिणाम्
Having praised and saluted the cows, and having circumambulated them to the right—
या लक्ष्मीः सवर्भूतानां या देवेषु व्यवस्थिता
That Lakshmi who abides among all beings, who is established among the gods,
विष्णोर्वक्षसि या लक्ष्मीः स्वाहा चैव विभावसोः
The Lakshmi who is on Vishnu’s chest, and Svaha, the consort of Fire,
गोमयं यमुना साक्षाद्गोमूत्रं नर्मदा शुभा
Cow dung is verily the Yamuna, cow urine is the auspicious Narmada,
गवामंगेषु तिष्ठंति भुवनानि चतुर्दश
In the limbs of cows dwell the fourteen worlds.
इति मंत्रं समुच्चार्य धेनूर्वाधेनुमेव वा
Reciting this mantra, whether over a cow or a heifer,
मया च विष्णुना सार्धं शिवेन च महर्षिभिः । विचार्य गोगुणान्नित्यं प्रार्थनेति विधीयते
Together with me, Vishnu, Shiva, and the great sages, having considered the virtues of cows, always prescribe this prayer.
गावो मे पुरतः संतु गावो मे संतु पृष्ठतः
May cows be before me, may cows be behind me.
नीराजयति योंगानि गवां पुच्छेन भाग्यवान्
He who performs arati of the limbs of cows with a cow’s tail is fortunate.
गोभिर्विप्रश्च वेदैश्च सतीभिः सत्यवादिभिः 4.1.2.
With cows, with brahmins, with the Vedas, with virtuous and truthful women,
मम लोकात्परोलोको वैकुंठ इति गीयते
Beyond my world is another world, called Vaikuntha.
शिवलोकस्तदुपरि गोलो कस्तत्समीपतः
Above that is Shiva’s world; near to that is Goloka.
गवां शुश्रूरूषकाये च गोप्रदाये च मानवाः
Men who serve cows, protect calves, and give cows in charity,
यत्र क्षीरवहा नद्यो यत्र पायस कर्दमाः
Where the rivers flow with milk, where the mud is made of curds,
श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणज्ञा ब्राह्मणाः परिकीर्तिताः
Those brahmins who know the Vedas, Smritis, and Puranas are praised.
श्रुतिस्मृती तु नेत्रे द्वे पुराणं हृदयं स्मृतम् पुराणहीनाद्धृच्छून्यात्काणांधावपि तौ वरौ
The Veda and Smriti are the two eyes, the Purana is said to be the heart; even if one is blind or one-eyed, those two are excellent, but without the Purana, the heart is empty.
तद्बाह्मणाय गोर्देया सर्वत्र सुखमिच्छता
Therefore, one who desires happiness everywhere should give a cow to a brahmin.
यस्य धर्मेऽस्ति जिज्ञासा यस्य पापाद्भयं महत्
He who seeks to know dharma, who has great fear of sin,
चतुर्दशसु विद्यासु पुराणं दीप उत्तमः 4.1.2.
Among the fourteen branches of knowledge, the Purana is the supreme lamp.
उत्फुल्लपद्मनयना निर्मिताः सुकृतार्थिनः 4.1.2.
With eyes like fully blossomed lotuses, they were created for those who seek virtuous rewards.
इह वंशं परिस्थाप्य भुक्त्वा सर्व सुखानि च
Having established his lineage here and enjoyed all pleasures,
सूत उवाच अवाप्य काशीं गीर्वाणैः किमकारि वदाच्युत
Sūta said: After reaching Kāśī with the gods, what did they do, O Acyuta? Tell me.
अधीत्येमां कथां दिव्यां न तृप्तिमधियाम्यहम्
Even after studying this divine tale, I do not feel satisfied in my mind.
कथं विंध्योप्यवाप स्वां प्रकृतिं तादृगुन्नतः
How did Vindhya, so exalted, regain his own nature?
इति कृत्स्नं समाकर्ण्य व्यासः पाराशरो मुनिः
Having listened to all this, Vyāsa, the sage son of Parāśara,
पाराशर उवाच शुकवैशंपायनाद्याः शृण्वंत्वेते च बालकाः
Parāśara said: Let Śuka, Vaiśampāyana, and these other boys listen.
ततो वाराणसीं प्राप्य गीर्वाणाः समहर्षयः
Then, having reached Vārāṇasī, the gods became exceedingly joyful.