Adhyaya 110: The Glory and Procedure of the Grain-Cow (Dhānyadhenu) Donation

Verse 1

अथ धान्यधेनुदानमाहात्म्यम् ॥ होतोवाच ॥ शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि धान्यधेनुमनुत्तमाम् ॥ यस्याः सङ्कीर्तनादेव सा तुष्येत् पार्वती स्वयम्

Now (follows) the exalted account of the gifting of the dhānyadhenu, the grain-cow. The Hotṛ said: Listen, O King; I shall explain the unsurpassed dhānyadhenu—by the mere recitation of which Pārvatī herself becomes pleased.

Verse 2

विषुवे चायने वापि कार्त्तिक्यां तु विशेषतः ॥ यां दत्त्वा मुच्यते पापाच्छशाङ्क इव राहुणा

At the equinox or at the solstice, and especially in Kārttikā—having given it, one is released from sin, like the moon released from the grasp of Rāhu.

Verse 3

तदिदानीं प्रवक्ष्यामि धान्यधेनुविधिं परम् । दशधेनुप्रदानेन यत्फलं राजसत्तम ॥ तत्सर्वमेव प्राप्नोति व्रीहिधेनुप्रदानतः ॥

Now I shall expound the supreme rite for the donation of the “grain-cow” (dhānya-dhenu). O best of kings, whatever merit is gained by gifting ten cows—one obtains all of that by donating a cow fashioned from rice (grain).

Verse 4

कृष्णाजिनं ततः कृत्वा प्राग्वत्सं स्थापयेद्बुधः । गोमयेनानुलिप्तायां भूमौ तां परिपूजयेत् ॥

Then, having prepared a black antelope skin (kṛṣṇājina), the wise person should set the calf facing east; and on ground smeared with cow-dung, one should duly worship it—the constructed offering.

Verse 5

उत्तमा तु भवेद्धेनुर्द्रोणैश्चापि चतुष्टयैः । मध्यमा च तदर्धेन वित्तशाठ्यं न कारयेत् ॥

The offering “cow” is deemed excellent when made with four droṇas of grain; the middling grade is made with half that. In such giving, one should not act with stinginess regarding wealth.

Verse 6

चतुर्थांशेन वत्सं तु कल्पयित्वा विधानतः । चतुर्थांशेन धेनोर्वै वत्सं तु परिकल्पयेत् ॥

According to the prescribed rule, one should fashion the calf in the proportion of one quarter; indeed, the calf is to be constructed as one quarter of the cow’s measure.

Verse 7

कर्तव्यौ रुक्मशृङ्गौ तु राजतखुरसंयुतौ । गोमेदैः कुर्वीत घ्राणं अगुरुं चन्दनं तथा ॥

One should fashion it with golden horns and with hooves set with silver. The nose should be made of gomeda gems; likewise, aguru (aloeswood) and sandalwood (candana) should be arranged/applied.

Verse 8

मुक्ताफलमया दन्ता घृतक्षौद्रमयं मुखम् । प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणं कांस्यदोहणकारिताम् ॥

Its teeth should be made of pearls; its mouth should be made of ghee and honey. It should have ears formed like excellent leaves, and it should be fashioned with a bronze vessel for milking.

Verse 9

इक्षुपृष्ठिमयाः पादाः क्षौम्यपुच्छसमन्विताम् । नानाफलसमोपेतां रत्नगर्भसमन्विताम् ॥

Its feet should be made of sugarcane stalks; it should be furnished with a linen tail. It should be supplied with various fruits and endowed with an inner ‘womb’ containing jewels.

Verse 10

पूर्ववच्चार्चयित्वा तां कृत्वा दीपार्चनादिकम् । पुण्यकालं च सम्प्राप्य स्नातः शुक्लाम्बरो गृही ॥

Having worshipped it as previously prescribed, and having performed the lamp-offering and related rites, and upon reaching an auspicious time, the householder—bathed and clad in white garments—should proceed.

Verse 11

त्रिः प्रदक्षिणमावृत्य दण्डवत्प्रणमेच्च ताम् । त्वं हि विप्र महाभाग वेदवेदाङ्गपारग ॥

Having circumambulated it three times, one should also bow in full prostration before it. «For you, O fortunate brāhmaṇa, are accomplished in the Veda and its ancillary disciplines.»

Verse 12

मया दत्तां च गृह्णीष्व प्रसीद त्वं द्विजोत्तम । प्रीयतां मम देवेशो भगवान्मधुसूदनः ॥

«Accept this which has been given by me, and be gracious, O best of the twice-born. May the Lord of my devotion—Bhagavān Madhusūdana—be pleased.»

Verse 13

या च लक्ष्मीस्तु गोविन्दे स्वाहा या च विभावसौ ॥ शक्रे शचीति विख्याता शिवे गौरी च संस्थिता

She who is Lakṣmī in Govinda, who is Svāhā in Vibhāvasu (Agni); who is famed as Śacī in Śakra (Indra), and who abides as Gaurī in Śiva—this very Goddess is spoken of in manifold forms.

Verse 14

गायत्री ब्रह्मणः प्रोक्ता ज्योत्स्ना चन्द्रे रवॆः प्रभा ॥ बुद्धिर्बृहस्पतेः ख्यातं मेधा मुनिषु सत्तमा

She is declared to be Gāyatrī for Brahmā; she is moonlight in the Moon and radiance in the Sun. She is known as intelligence in Bṛhaspati, and as the most excellent medhā among sages.

Verse 15

तस्मात्सर्वमयी देवी धान्यरूपेण संस्थिता ॥ एवमुच्चार्य तां धेनुं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्

Therefore the Goddess—who is made of all (forms)—is established in the form of grain. Having recited thus, one should present that ‘cow’ (made of grain) to a brāhmaṇa.

Verse 16

दत्त्वा प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा तं क्षमाप्य द्विजोत्तमम् ॥ यावच्च पृथिवी सर्वा वसुरत्नानि भूपते

Having given the gift, having performed pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation), and having sought forgiveness from that best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇa)—as far as the whole earth extends with its treasures and jewels, O king—

Verse 17

तावत्पुण्यं समधिकं व्रीहिधेनोश्च तत्फलम् ॥ तस्मान्नरेन्द्र दातव्या भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदा

So great—indeed surpassing—is the merit (puṇya) and the corresponding fruit of the vrīhi-dhenu, the grain-cow. Therefore, O king of men, it should be given, for it bestows the fruits of worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).

Verse 18

इहलोके च सौभाग्यमायुरारोग्यवर्द्धनम् ॥ विमानॆनार्कवर्णेन किङ्किणीजालमालिना

In this world it bestows good fortune and increases lifespan and health; and the donor proceeds in a celestial vimāna, sun-hued, adorned with a net of little bells.

Verse 19

ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जम्बूद्वीपपतिर्भवेत् ॥ एवं हरेण चोद्गीर्णं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं नरोत्तमः

Then, fallen from heaven, he becomes a lord of Jambūdvīpa. Having thus heard the statement uttered by Hari, that best of men—

Verse 20

सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा रुद्रलोके महीयते

With the self purified from all sins, he is honored in Rudraloka.

Verse 21

पादुकोपानहच्छत्रभाजनं तर्पणं तथा ॥ अङ्गं तु पूर्ववत्कार्यं मुखं क्षौद्रमयं शुभम्

(Provide) sandals, footwear, an umbrella, a vessel, and also a tarpaṇa-offering; and the body should be made as before, while the face should be auspicious and made of honey (or a honey-like sweet substance).

Verse 22

स्तूयमानोऽप्सरोभिश्च स याति शिवमन्दिरम् ॥ यावच्च स्मरते जन्म तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते

Praised by apsarases, he goes to Śiva’s abode; and for as long as he remembers (his) birth, for that long he is honored in heaven.