Varaha Purana

अनृतं नाशमायाति गुडधेनो द्विजार्पिता । दीयमानां प्रपश्यन्ति ते यान्ति परमां गतिम् ॥ यत्र क्षोरवहा नद्यो घृतपायसकर्दमाः । ऋषयो मुनयः सिद्धास्तत्र गच्छन्ति धेनुदाः

Falsehood does not bring ruin when the cow of molasses is given to a twice-born. Those who give it are seen and attain the highest state—where rivers flow with clarified butter and milk, and where seers, sages, and perfected beings go, there go the givers of cows.

दश पूर्वान्दश परानात्भानञ्चैकविंशतिम् । विष्णुलोकं नयत्याशु गुडधेनोः प्रसादतः

By the grace of the cow of molasses, one quickly leads ten ancestors before, ten descendants after, and oneself—the twenty-first—to the world of Vishnu.

अयने विषुवे पुण्ये व्यतीपाते दिनक्षये । सर्वदैव प्रदातव्या पात्रं दृष्ट्‍वा महामते

At the solstices, equinoxes, eclipses, and at the end of the day, O wise one, it should always be given, having seen a worthy recipient.

श्रद्धान्वितेन दातव्या भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदा । सर्वकामप्रदा नित्यं सर्वपापहरास्मृता

It should be given with faith, as it grants both enjoyment and liberation; it always bestows all desires and is said to remove all sins.

गुडधेनोः प्रसादात्तु सौभाग्यमखिल भवेत् । वैष्णवं पदमाप्नोति दौर्गत्यन्तस्य नश्यति

By the grace of the cow of molasses, all good fortune arises; one attains the Vaishnava abode, and the end of misfortune is destroyed.

दशद्वादशसाहस्रा दश चाष्टौ च जन्मनि । न शोकदुःखदौर्गत्यं तस्य सञ्जायते क्वचित्

For ten, twelve thousand, ten, and eight births, there is never sorrow, suffering, or misfortune for that person.

इति पठति शृणोति चेह सम्यक् मतिमपि ददाति योजनानाम् । स इह विभवैश्चिरं वसित्वा वसति चिरं दिवि देवतादिपूज्यः

Whoever recites or hears this here properly, and applies their mind to it, lives long with prosperity here, and after, dwells long in heaven, honored by the gods and others.

त्र्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः होतोवाच तद्वच्च शर्कराधेनुं शृणु राजन् यथार्थतः । अनुलिप्ते महीपृष्ठे कृष्णाजिनकुशोत्तरे

Chapter one hundred and three. Hotā said: Likewise, hear, O King, about the cow of sugar, as it truly is—on earth smeared and covered with black antelope skin and sacred grass.

धेनुं शर्करया राजन्कृत्वा भारचतुष्टयम् । उत्तमा कथ्यते सद्भिश्चतुर्थांशेन वत्सकम्

O King, making a cow of sugar, weighing four loads, is said by the virtuous to be the best; with a fourth part, a calf.

तदर्धं मध्यमा प्रोक्ता कनिष्ठा भारकेण तु । तद्वद्वत्सं प्रकुर्वीत चतुर्थांशेन तत्त्वतः

Half of that is called middling; the least is with a single load. In the same way, the calf should be made with a fourth part, truly.

अथ कुर्यादष्टशतैरूर्ध्वं नृपतिसत्तम । स्वशक्त्या कारयेद्‌धेनुं तथात्मानं पीडयेत्

Then, O best of kings, one should make it with eight hundred (units) or more, according to one's ability, and thus exert oneself.

सर्वबीजानि संस्थाप्य चतुर्दिक्षु समन्ततः । सुवर्णस्य मुखं शृङ्गे मौक्तिकैर्नयने तथा

Placing all seeds in all four directions, with a golden mouth at the snout, and pearls at the eyes,

गुडेन तु मुख काये जिह्वा पिष्टमयी तथा । कम्बलं पट्टसूत्रेण कण्ठाभरणभूषिताम्

With sugar for the mouth and body, the tongue made of flour, with a blanket and silk cord, adorned with a necklace at the neck.

इक्षुपादां रौप्यखुरां तवनीतस्तनीं तथा । प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणां सितचामरपभूषिताम्

With sugarcane legs, silver hooves, butter-filled udders, ears adorned with fine leaves, and decorated with white yak-tail fans.

पञ्चरत्नसमायुक्तां वस्त्रेणाच्छादितां तथा । गन्धपुष्पैरलंकृत्य ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्

Fitted with five gems and covered with cloth, it should be ornamented with fragrant flowers and offered to a Brahmin.

श्रोत्रियाय दरिद्राय साधुवृत्ताय धीमते । वेदवेदाङ्‌गविदुषे साग्निकाय कुटुम्बिने । अदुष्टाय प्रदातव्या न तु मत्सरिणे द्विजे

It should be given to a learned, poor, virtuous, intelligent Brahmin who knows the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, maintains sacred fire, has a family, and is not wicked; never to a jealous Brahmin.

अयने विषुवे पुण्ये व्यतीपाते दिनक्षये । एषु पुण्येषु कालेषु थथाविभवशक्तितः

On solstices, equinoxes, auspicious conjunctions, or at the end of the day—during these sacred times, according to one's means.

सत्पात्रञ्च द्विजं दृष्ट्‍वा आगतं श्रोत्रियं गृहे । तादृशाय प्रदातव्या पुच्छदेशे विमृष्य च

Seeing a worthy Brahmin, a learned guest in the house, one should give accordingly, after examining the tail region.

पूर्वाभिमुखमास्थाय अथवा स उदङ्मुखः । गां पूर्वाभिमुखीं कृत्वा वत्समुत्तरतो न्यसेत्

Facing east, or alternatively north, place the cow facing east and the calf to the north.

दानकाले तु ये मन्त्रास्तान्पठित्वा समर्पयेत् । सम्पूज्य विधिवद्विप्रं मुद्रिकाकर्णभूषणैः

At the time of donation, recite the prescribed mantras, worship the Brahmin properly, and adorn him with rings and ear ornaments.

स्वशक्त्या दक्षिणा देया वित्तशाठ्यविवर्ज्जितः । हस्ते तु दक्षिणां दत्त्वा गन्धपुष्पसचन्दनाम् । धेनुं समर्पयेत्तस्य मुखञ्च च विलोकयेत्

Give a gift according to one's ability, free from miserliness; after placing the donation in his hand, with fragrant flowers and sandalwood, offer the cow and gaze upon its face.

एकाहं शर्कराहारो ब्राह्मणस्त्रिदिनं वसेत् । सर्वपापहरा धेनुः सर्वकामप्रदायिनी

The Brahmin should eat only sugar for one day and stay for three days; the cow removes all sins and grants every desire.

सर्वकामसमृद्धस्तु जायते नात्र संशयः । दीयमानं प्रपश्यन्ति ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्

One attains fulfillment of all desires—there is no doubt; those who witness the donation reach the highest state.

य इदं शृणुयाद् भक्त्या पठते वापि मानवः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

Whoever hears or recites this with devotion is freed from all sins and goes to the realm of Vishnu.

अथ मधुधेनुदानमाहात्म्यम् मधुधेनुं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपातकनाशिनीम्

Now, the greatness of the honey-cow donation: I will describe the honey-cow, destroyer of all sins.

धेनुं मधुमयीं कृत्वा सम्पूर्णघटषोडशाम्

Make a cow entirely of honey, complete with sixteen full pots.

सौवर्णं तु मुखं कृत्वा शृङ्गाण्यगुरुचंदनैः

Fashion its face of gold, and its horns from agarwood and sandalwood.

पादानिक्षुमयान्कृत्वा सितकम्बलसंवृतान्

Make its feet of sugarcane, and cover them with white blankets.

ओष्ठौ पुष्पमयौ तस्या दन्ताः फलमयाः स्मृताः

Its lips should be made of flowers, and its teeth are considered to be made of fruit.