Adhyaya 104: The Eulogy and Procedure of the ‘Honey-Cow’ Gift (Madhudhenudāna)

Verse 1

अथ मधुधेनुदानमाहात्म्यम् ॥ होतॊवाच ॥ मधुधेनुं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपातकनाशिनीम् । अनुलिप्ते महीपृष्ठे कृष्णाजिनकुशोत्तरे ॥ १०४-१ ॥ धेनुं मधुमयीं कृत्वा सम्पूर्णघटषोडशाम् । चतुर्थेन तथांशेन वत्सकं परिकल्पयेत् ॥

Now follows the greatness of the gift of the ‘honey-cow.’ The Hotṛ said: “I shall explain the honey-cow, the destroyer of all sins. On ground that has been freshly smeared and purified, with a black antelope skin and kuśa-grass spread above it—(104.1)—having fashioned a cow made of honey, complete with sixteen full pots, one should likewise prepare a calf in the proportion of one fourth.”

Verse 2

सौवर्णं तु मुखं कृत्वा शृङ्गाण्यगुरुचन्दनैः॥ पृष्ठं ताम्रमयं कृत्वा सास्रां पटमयीं तथा॥

Having fashioned the face from gold and the horns from agarwood and sandalwood, one should fashion the back from copper, and likewise make the cloth covering in the prescribed ‘sāsrā’ form.

Verse 3

पादानिक्षुमयान्कृत्वा सितकम्बलसंवृतान्॥ मुखं गुडमयं कृत्वा जिह्वां शर्करया तथा॥

Having fashioned the feet from sugarcane and covering them with a white woolen cloth, one should fashion the face from jaggery (gud), and likewise the tongue from sugar.

Verse 4

ओष्ठौ पुष्पमयौ तस्या दन्ताः फलमयाः स्मृताः॥ दर्भरोममयी देवी खुरैरौप्यैश्च भूषिता॥

Her lips are to be made of flowers; her teeth are said to be made of fruits. The ‘goddess’ in cow-form has darbha-grass as hair and is adorned with hooves of silver.

Verse 5

प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणा प्रमाणात्परितस्तता॥ सर्वलक्षणसंयुक्ता सप्तधान्यान्विता तथा॥

With commendable leaf-like ears, proportionate in measure and spread evenly all around, she should be furnished with all auspicious marks and likewise accompanied by the seven grains.

Verse 6

चत्वारि तिलपात्राणि चतुर्दिक्षु प्रकल्पयेत्॥ छादितां वस्त्रयुग्मेन कण्ठाभरणभूषिताम्॥

One should arrange four vessels of sesame in the four directions, and (the cow-form) should be covered with a pair of garments and adorned with a neck-ornament.

Verse 7

कांस्योपदोहिनीं कृत्वा गन्धपुष्पैस्तु पूजिताम्॥ अयने विषुवे पुण्ये व्यतीपाते दिनक्षये॥

Having provided a bronze milking-vessel and worshipped her with perfumes and flowers—this should be done at the solstice, at the auspicious equinox, at vyatīpāta, and at the close of the day.

Verse 8

संक्रान्त्यामुपरागे च सर्वकाले यदृच्छया॥ द्रव्यब्राह्मणसम्पत्तिं दृष्ट्वा तां प्रतिपादयेत्॥

At a saṃkrānti (solar ingress) and during an eclipse, and indeed at any time as circumstances allow—having seen the availability of means and a suitable brāhmaṇa recipient, one should confer that gift.

Verse 9

तादृशाय प्रदातव्या मधु धेनुर्नरोत्तमे॥ पुच्छदेशे विमृश्याथ जलपूर्णां सदक्षिणाम्॥

Such a “honey-cow” is to be given to such a recipient, O best of men. Then, having touched the tail-region, one should perform the rite with a water-filled offering and with the accompanying dakṣiṇā.

Verse 10

दद्याद्विप्राय धेनुं तां मन्त्रपूर्वां विचक्षणः॥ पुच्छदेशोपविष्टस्तु गन्धधूपादिपूजिता॥ आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन मुद्रिकावर्णमात्रकैः॥ स्वशक्त्या दक्षिणां दत्त्वा वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः॥ जलपूर्वं तु कर्त्तव्यं पश्चाद्यानं समर्पयेत्॥ रसज्ञा सर्वदेवानां सर्वभूतहिते रता॥

A discerning person should give that cow to a learned brāhmaṇa, preceded by mantra. Seated at the tail-region and honored with perfume, incense, and the like, having covered her with a pair of garments and with coin-like marks, and having given dakṣiṇā according to one’s capacity—free from deceit regarding wealth—one should first perform the water-offering; afterward one should present the vehicle. She is said to “know the essence” for all the gods and to be devoted to the welfare of all beings.

Verse 11

प्रीयन्तां पितरो देवा मधुधेनो नमोऽस्तु ते॥ एवमुच्चार्य तां धेनुं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्॥

“May the ancestors and the gods be pleased; O honey-cow, salutations to you.” Having thus recited, one should formally present that cow to a brāhmaṇa.

Verse 12

अहं गृह्णामि त्वां देवि कुटुम्बार्थे विशेषतः ॥ कामं कामदुघे कामान्मधुधेनो नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

O Goddess, I accept you especially for the welfare of my household. O Madhu-dhenū, the wish-fulfilling milch-cow, grant the desired objects as you will; homage to you.

Verse 13

मधुवातेति मन्त्रेण दद्यादाशुचिकेन तु ॥ दत्त्वा धेनुं महाराज छत्रिकोपानहौ तथा ॥

Using the mantra beginning “madhuvāta…”, one should give the offering, even if the giver is not yet purified. Having given the cow, O great king, one should also give an umbrella and sandals.

Verse 14

एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या मधुधेनुं नराधिप ॥ दत्त्वा दानं पायसेन मधुना च दिनं नयेत् ॥

Thus, O lord of men, whoever performs the Madhu-dhenū gift with devotion—having given the donation—should spend the day taking milk-rice and honey as the prescribed fare.

Verse 15

ब्राह्मणश्च त्रिरात्रं तु मधुपायससंयुतम् ॥ एवं कृते तु यत्पुण्यं तन्निबोध नराधिप ॥

And the Brāhmaṇa recipient, for three nights, should observe a regimen accompanied by honey and milk-rice. When this is done, O king, understand the merit (puṇya) that arises from it.

Verse 16

यत्र नद्यो मधुवहा यत्र पायसकर्दमाः ॥ ऋषयो मुनयः सिद्धास्तत्र गच्छन्ति धेनुदाः ॥

Where the rivers bear honey, where the mud is milk-rice—there the ṛṣis, munis, and siddhas are found; there go those who give the dhenu, the gift of a cow.

Verse 17

तत्र भोगानथो भुङ्क्ते ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति ॥ क्रीडित्वा सुचिरं कालं पुनर्मर्त्यमुपागतः ॥

There he enjoys pleasures, and then he goes to the world of Brahmā. Having sported for a very long time, he returns again to the mortal condition.

Verse 18

नयते विष्णुसायुज्यं मधुधेनुप्रदानतः ॥ य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या श्रावयेद्वापि मानवः ॥ सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥

By the gifting of the Madhu-dhenū, one is led to communion with Viṣṇu. And whoever listens to this with devotion—or causes it to be recited—freed from all sins, goes to the world of Viṣṇu.

Verse 19

ब्राह्मणाय दरिद्राय श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये ॥ आर्यावर्त्ते समुत्पन्ने वेदवेदाङ्गपारगे ॥

(It should be given) to a poor Brāhmaṇa who is a śrotriya and who maintains the sacred fires; one born in Āryāvarta and proficient in the Veda and its auxiliaries (Vedāṅga).

Verse 20

स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगान्विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥ दश पूर्वान्दश परानात्मानं चैकत्रिंशकम् ॥

Having enjoyed abundant pleasures, he goes to the world of Viṣṇu—benefiting ten predecessors, ten successors, and himself as the thirty-first.