Varaha Purana

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.

प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणा प्रमाणात्परितस्तता

Its ears adorned with fine leaves, arranged all around in proper measure.

चत्वारि तिलपात्राणि चतुर्दिक्षु प्रकल्पयेत्

Place four sesame-leaf plates in the four directions.

कांस्योपदोहिनीं कृत्वा गन्धपुष्पैस्तु पूजिताम्

Having made a copper cow, and having worshipped it with fragrant flowers,

संक्रांत्यामुपरागे च सर्वकाले यदृच्छया

At the time of a solstice, eclipse, or at any time by one's own wish,

ब्राह्मणाय दरिद्राय श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये 104.

To a Brahmin who is poor, learned in the Vedas, and maintains sacred fires,

तादृशाय प्रदातव्या मधु धेनुर्नरोत्तमे

Such a person should be given the best cow with honey.

दद्याद्विप्राय धेनुं तां मन्त्रपूर्वां विचक्षणः आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन मुद्रिकावर्णमात्रकैः जलपूर्वं तु कर्त्तव्यं पश्चाद्यानं समर्पयेत्

One who is wise should give that cow to a Brahmin, preceded by mantras, covered with a pair of garments, adorned with rings, and after a water-ritual, should then offer the cow.

प्रीयन्तां पितरो देवा मधुधेनो नमोऽस्तु ते

May the ancestors and gods be pleased; O cow with honey, I bow to you.

अहं गृह्णामि त्वां देवि कुटुम्बार्थे विशेषतः

O goddess, I accept you, especially for the sake of my household.

मधुवातेति मन्त्रेण दद्यादाशुचिकेन तु

With the mantra 'Madhuvāt', one should give it, even if impure.