Listen, O tiger among men, as I recount this tale to you, O sinless one. There was once a king who undertook the great Sarvamedha sacrifice, an act of immense merit. Yet, even in the midst of his grand offerings, he neglected to give food, considering it insignificant—just as you have done. Vinītāśva, the foremost among kings, performed many meritorious deeds and became the sovereign of the earth. But despite his greatness, he too was afflicted by hunger and departed from this world in the same way, O king. Shining like the sun, Vinītāśva ascended in a radiant celestial chariot. Arriving at the banks of the sacred Jahnavi, he saw his family priest, the officiating priest. Vinītāśva approached him and asked, “What is the cause of my hunger?” The priest replied, “O king, a cow yielding ghee, a cow, and a cow yielding sweet liquids—these should be given. As long as the sun shines, or as long as the moon shines, their merit endures.” Vinītāśva then asked, “Does he enjoy heaven, O best of Brāhmaṇas? Tell me, as I inquire.” The priest explained, “Four kuḍavas make one prastha, so it is declared. The cow should be made with sixteen parts, and with four, a calf is formed. On her tail, a bell ornament adorned with jewels should be arranged. She should have a bronze vessel for milking, silver hooves, as prescribed for the cow. Her garment should be made of black antelope skin, delightful and auspicious. She must be endowed with all medicinal herbs and purified by mantras before being given. Let everything be accomplished for us; the sesame cow is offered to the twice-born. O goddess, accept from me the sesame cow; salutations to you. Freed from all sins, one attains the world of Vishnu.” Now hear the procedure for donating the water-cow, O king. I will describe the rite, performed on an auspicious day. In the middle, a full pot should be placed. The cow should be prepared, scented with fragrant water. There should be a vessel for increase, furnished with mechanical flowers. Five gems should be deposited in that pot. The fruit of the dhatri tree, mustard seeds, and all grains are to be included. One vessel should be filled with ghee, and a second with curds. The cow should have a golden mouth and eyes, with horns black in color. Her back should be copper, with a bronze vessel for milking, and furnished with fibers of darbha grass. She should be placed on a blanket, adorned with a garland of flowers, with a mouth of jaggery and teeth made of shells. O king, one should prepare a cow made of sugarcane, adorned with fragrant flowers. Having worshipped it with fragrant flowers, it should be offered to a Brahmin—one who is virtuous, learned in the Vedas, and maintains the sacred fire. O king, whoever gives, sees, or hears of this—even a slayer of a Brahmin, a killer of parents, a destroyer of cows, a drinker of liquor, or one who approaches his teacher’s wife—is freed from all sins and attains the world of Vishnu. O ruler of men, whoever gives a water-cow in its entirety, even the collector of the gift should remain for three nights—of this there is no doubt. Wherever the Apsaras sing, there the givers of water-cows go. Freed from all sins, they attain union with Vishnu.