Adhyaya 100: Ritual Procedure for the Donation of the ‘Water-Cow’ (Jaladhenu)

Verse 1

अथ जलधेनुदानविधिः ॥ होतोवाच ॥ जलधेनुं प्रवक्ष्यामि पुण्येऽह्नि विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ गोचर्ममात्रं भूभागं गोमयेनोपलेपयेत्

Now follows the procedure for the gift called jaladhenu. The Hotṛ said: “I shall explain the jaladhenu, on an auspicious day, according to proper rule. One should smear with cow-dung a plot of ground the size of a cowhide.”

Verse 2

तत्र मध्ये तु राजेन्द्र पूर्णं कुम्भं च विन्यसेत् ॥ जलपूर्णं सुगन्धाढ्यं कर्पूरागुरुचन्दनैः

In the middle of that area, O lord of kings, one should place a full water-jar—filled with water and richly perfumed with camphor, agarwood, and sandalwood.

Verse 3

वासितं गन्धतोयेन तां धेनुं परिकल्पयेत् ॥ वत्सं तथापरं कल्प्य जलेन परिपूरितम् ॥

One should prepare that cow (as a ritual gift) by perfuming it with fragrant water; and likewise fashion a calf as well, filled with water.

Verse 4

वर्द्धनीकं महाराज यन्त्रपुष्पैः समन्वितम् ॥ दूर्वाङ्कुरैरुपस्तीऱ्य स्रग्भिश्चैव विभूषितम् ॥

O great king, prepare a varddhanīka vessel furnished with arranged flowers; spread it with fresh dūrvā sprouts and adorn it with garlands as well.

Verse 5

पञ्चरत्नानि निक्षिप्य तस्मिन् कुम्भे नराधिप ॥ मांसीमुशीरं कुष्ठं च तथा शैलेयबालुकम् ॥

O ruler of men, having placed the five gems into that jar, add māṃsī, uśīra, kuṣṭha, and likewise śaileya and fine sand.

Verse 6

धात्रीफलṃ सर्षपाश्च सर्वधान्यानि पार्थिव ॥ चतुर्दिक्ष्वपि पात्राणि चत्वार्येव प्रकल्पयेत् ॥

O king, add emblic fruit (dhātrī), mustard seeds, and all grains; and in the four directions one should arrange exactly four vessels.

Verse 7

एकं घृतमयं पात्रं द्वितीयं दधिपूरितम् ॥ तृतीयं मधुनश्चैव चतुर्थं शर्करावृतम् ॥

One vessel should be made of ghee; the second filled with curds; the third with honey; and the fourth covered with sugar.

Verse 8

सुवर्णमुखचक्षूंषि शृङ्गं कृष्णाङ्गरेषु च ॥ प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणां मुक्ताफलमयेक्षणाम् ॥

(Fashion the cow) with a golden mouth and eyes, and with horns set upon dark-colored limbs; with auspicious leaf-like ears, and with eyes made of pearls.

Verse 9

ताम्रपृष्ठां कांस्यदोहां दर्भरोमसमन्विताम् ॥ पुच्छं सूत्रमयं कृत्वा कृष्णाभरणघण्टिकाम् ॥

(Fashion the cow) with a copper back and a bronze milking-vessel (or bronze fittings for milking), furnished with hairs of darbha-grass; and having made the tail of thread, (equip it) with a dark ornament and a small bell.

Verse 10

इक्षुपादां तु राजेन्द्र गन्धपुष्पोपशोभिताम् ॥ कृष्णाजिनोपरि स्थाप्य वस्त्रेणाच्छादितां तु ताम् ॥

O lord of kings, (prepare) her with sugarcane as her legs, beautified with perfumes and flowers; having placed her upon a black antelope skin, cover her with cloth.

Verse 11

गन्धपुष्पैः समभ्यर्च्य विप्राय विनिवेदयेत् ॥ एवं धेनुं तदा दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे ॥

Having duly honored (it) with perfumes and flowers, one should present it to a learned man; thus, having then given the cow to a brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Veda(s)...

Verse 12

साधुविप्राय राजेन्द्र श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये ॥ तपोवृद्धाय पात्राय दातव्या च कुटुम्बिने ॥

O lord of kings, it should be given to a virtuous learned man—to a śrotriya who maintains the sacred fires, to one advanced in austerity, to a worthy recipient, and also to a householder with a family.

Verse 13

यो ददाति नरो राजन् यः पश्यति शृणोति च ॥ प्रतिगृह्णाति यो विप्रः सर्वे मुच्यन्ति पातकात्

O King, the one who gives, the one who witnesses and listens, and the brāhmaṇa who accepts—each is said to be released from sin.

Verse 14

ब्रह्महा पितृहागोघ्नः सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः ॥ मुक्ताः सर्वपापैस्तु गन्तारो विष्णुमन्दिरे

Even a slayer of a brāhmaṇa, a slayer of one’s ancestors, a killer of a cow, a drinker of intoxicants, and one who violates the teacher’s bed—freed from all sins—are said to go to Viṣṇu’s abode.

Verse 15

विमुक्तः सर्वपापैस्तु विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥ योऽश्वमेधेन यजते समाप्तवरदक्षिणः

Freed from all sins, he goes to Viṣṇu’s world—he who performs the Aśvamedha sacrifice, having duly completed it with the prescribed excellent fees (dakṣiṇā).

Verse 16

जलधेनुं च यो दद्यात्सममेतन्नराधिप ॥ जलाहारस्त्वेकदिनं तिष्ठेच्च जलधेनुदः

O ruler of men, one who gives the ‘water-cow’ (jaladhenu) should likewise observe this: for one day, the donor should remain taking only water as sustenance.

Verse 17

ग्राहकोऽपि त्रिरात्रं वै तिष्ठेदेवं न संशयः ॥ यत्र क्षीरवहा नद्यो मधुपायसकर्दमाः

The recipient too should observe this for three nights—so it is stated, without doubt—(and they attain a realm) where rivers flow with milk and the mud is of honey and sweet rice pudding (pāyasa).

Verse 18

यत्र चाप्सरसां गीतं तत्र यान्ति जलप्रदाः ॥ दाता च दापकश्चैव प्रतिग्राही च यो द्विजः

Where the song of the Apsarases is heard, there the givers of water go; and this applies to the donor, the one who causes the gift to be given, and the brāhmaṇa who receives it.

Verse 19

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स्वर्गमेति जितेन्द्रियः

Freed from all sins, self-controlled, he goes to heaven.

Verse 20

कम्बले पुष्पमालां च गुडास्यां शुक्तिदन्तिकाम् ॥ जिह्वां शर्करया कृत्वा नवनीतेन च स्तनान्

With a woolen cloth and a garland of flowers; with a mouth made of jaggery and teeth made of shell; fashioning the tongue with sugar, and the udders with fresh butter—thus it is constructed.

Verse 21

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः विष्णुसायुज्यमाप्नुयुः ॥ जलधेनुविधानं यः शृणुयात्कीर्तयेदपि

Freed from all sins, they would attain union with Viṣṇu. Whoever listens to, or even recites, the prescription for the jaladhenu (water-cow) also gains merit.