Adhyaya 82
Anushasana ParvaAdhyaya 8228 Verses

Adhyaya 82

Gavāṃ Māhātmya — Go-dāna, Yajña-ādhāra, and Goloka (Brahmā–Indra–Surabhi Itihāsa)

Upa-parva: Gavāṃ Māhātmya (Cow-Veneration and Go-dāna Instruction) — Anuśāsana-parva thematic unit

Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira that those who gift cows and those who subsist on sacrificial remnants are perpetually connected to satras and yajñas (1). He states that yajña cannot proceed without dairy—curd and ghee—thereby identifying cows as the functional root of ritual performance (2). Among all gifts, cow-gifting is praised as especially purifying; cows are declared foremost and intrinsically sanctifying (3). Service to cows is recommended for nourishment and peace; their milk, curd, and ghee are described as liberative from sin (4). Cows are characterized as supreme radiance and the highest purifier in both this world and the next (5). Bhīṣma then cites an ancient narrative: after the defeat of the daityas, beings assemble around Pitāmaha (Brahmā), with celestial music and offerings; Indra asks why cows have a realm above the gods and what austerity they performed (6–13). Brahmā replies that Indra has habitually disregarded cows and explains their greatness: cows are limbs of yajña and yajña itself; without them yajña cannot function (14–16). They sustain beings through milk and sacrificial substances, support agriculture via their offspring, generate grains and seeds, and thus enable offerings to gods and ancestors (17–20). Hence cows dwell above the gods; they are boon-bestowing and auspicious (21–22). Brahmā recounts Surabhi’s tapas in the devayuga—undertaken in alignment with Aditi’s austerity—standing on one foot for vast periods; pleased, Brahmā grants immortality and establishes the famed Goloka above the three worlds, describing its deathlessness and abundance, and noting access through vows, tīrtha-service, tapas, and meritorious action (23–40). Brahmā concludes by warning against contempt toward cows (41). Bhīṣma closes: Indra thereafter honors cows; hearing and recounting this purifying discourse benefits ritual contexts (yajñas, pitṛ-kārya), and devotion to cows is said to yield desired aims—offspring, marriage, wealth, dharma, learning, and happiness—framed as a phalaśruti (42–47).

Chapter Arc: The discourse opens by proclaiming the cow as the foremost of all dakṣiṇās (sacred gifts), seeking freedom from sin and the highest auspicious merit through her donation. → A graded map of merit unfolds: different colors and qualities of cows—each adorned, clothed, and given with a calf—lead the donor to distinct exalted realms; even the bull, fit for bearing burdens and ornamented with gems, becomes a vehicle to Prajāpati’s world. The listener is drawn deeper into the precise ritual economy of giving. → The chapter reaches its summit in the lavishly sensuous vision of heaven: the donor is awakened by the music of vīṇā and vallakī, by the jingling of anklets, and by the laughter of doe-eyed maidens—an image that makes the promised fruit feel immediate and irresistible. → The teaching seals the doctrine with a vast measure of reward: as many hairs as are on the cow, so many years the giver is honored; even after falling from heaven, the donor is reborn into a wealthy house—thus the merit persists across worlds.

Shlokas

Verse 1

अ-क्रा् एकोनाशीतितमो< ध्याय: गौओंको तपस्याद्वारा अभीष्ट वरकी प्राप्ति तथा उनके दानकी महिमा

第七十九章:述以苦行得遂所愿之福,及施牛之大功德;又言施与不同种类之牛,得往不同殊胜善界。婆悉吒说道:“我等曾行极难之苦行,历经十万年;凭借先前所放施之群牛,愿我等得至最上之境。”

Verse 2

लोकेडस्मिन्‌ दक्षिणानां च सर्वासां वयमुत्तमा: । भवेम न च लिप्येम दोषेणेति परंतप

婆悉吒说道:“在此世间,于一切达克希那(尊礼之赠)之中,我们当为最上;然而不可为任何过失所染污。此乃我之所言,噬敌者啊。”

Verse 3

अस्मत्पुरीषस्नानेन जन: पूर्येत सर्वदा । शकृता च पतवित्रार्थ कुर्वीरन्‌ देवमानुषा:

婆悉吒说道:“以我们的粪秽沐浴,众人将恒得清净;为求净化,诸天与人亦将以粪作仪,行诸净礼。”

Verse 4

तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च । प्रदातारश्च॒ लोकान्‌ नो गच्छेयुरिति मानद

婆悉吒说道:“同样,愿一切众生——不动者与动者——皆成施与者;愿此等施主得至诸世界(福报之界)。此乃本意,赐荣者啊。”

Verse 5

वसिष्ठजी कहते हैं--मानद परंतप! प्राचीन कालमें जब गौओंकी सृष्टि हुई थी

婆悉吒说道:“赐荣者啊,噬敌者啊!在远古之时,当牛族初被创造之际,那些牛曾行极严苦行,历经十万年。其所求者乃是:‘愿我等得至最上。于一切堪为达克希那(圣礼之赠)的诸物之中,愿我等被视为最胜。愿无过失染著于我等。以我等牛粪沐浴,愿世人恒得清净。愿诸天与人常以我等牛粪行净礼。愿一切众生——动与不动——皆由此得净;而施牛之人,愿得至我等之世界——牛界天宫,戈洛迦(Goloka)。’ 当其苦行圆满之时,梵天亲自赐予恩许:‘如是成就。愿汝心中之誓愿悉皆圆满。汝等当继续拔济、度脱遍世众生。’”

Verse 6

उत्तस्थु: सिद्धकामास्ता भूतभव्यस्य मातर: । प्रातर्नमस्यास्ता गावस्तत:ः पुष्टिमवाप्लुयात्‌

婆悉吒说道:“当其所愿悉皆成就,那些牛便从苦行中起身。它们是时间之母——过去、未来与现在三世之母。因此,人当每日清晨起身,向牛顶礼致敬;由此,便得滋养、安泰与力量。”

Verse 7

तपसोअ<न्ते महाराज गावो लोकपरायणा: । तस्माद्‌ गावो महाभागा: पवित्र परमुच्यते

婆悉吒说道:“大王啊,当苦行圆满之时,群牛便成为整个世界的归依与支撑。因此,那些大福德之牛被宣说为至极清净。”

Verse 8

तथैव सर्वभूतानां समतिष्ठन्त मूर्थनि । समानवत्सां कपिलां थेनुं दत्वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

婆悉吒说道:“同样,也有一些人立于一切众生之首——意即他们最为尊上,最堪礼敬。若有人布施一头多乳、相好具足的迦毗罗色(黄褐色)母牛,连同同色之犊,并以布帛恭敬覆饰,此人将在梵天之界受尊崇。”

Verse 9

लोहितां तुल्यवत्सां तु थेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां सूर्यलोके महीयते

婆悉吒说道:“若有人布施一头红色多乳、相好具足的母牛,连同同色之犊,并以布帛恭敬覆饰,此施主将在日神苏利耶之界受尊崇。”

Verse 10

समानवत्सां शबलां थेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां सोमलोके महीयते

婆悉吒说道:“若有人布施一头斑驳多乳、相好具足的母牛,连同同类之犊,并以布帛恭敬覆饰,此人将在苏摩之界(月界)受尊崇。”

Verse 11

समानवत्सां श्वेतां तु धेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामिन्द्रलोके महीयते

婆悉吒说道:“若有人布施一头白色多乳的母牛,连同同类之犊;其人行持端正,并以布帛如法覆饰,则将在帝释天之界受尊崇。”

Verse 12

समानवत्सां कृष्णां तु धेनुं दत््वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतामग्निलोके महीयते

婆悉吒(Vasiṣṭha)说:若有人布施一头乳汁丰盈的黑色母牛,并以同色之犊相随,又以布帛庄严覆护,且其行持端正,则于火神阿耆尼之界(Agni-loka)得受尊荣,位阶崇高。

Verse 13

समानवत्सां धूम्रां तु थेनुं दत््वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां याम्यलोके महीयते

婆悉吒说:若有人布施一头烟灰色、乳汁充盈的母牛,并以同色之犊相随,又以布帛覆护而庄严供献,则于阎摩之界(Yama-loka)受人敬重。

Verse 14

अपां फेनसवर्णा तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्‌ | प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां वारुणं लोकमाप्लनुते

婆悉吒说:若有人布施一头色如水沫之母牛,连同其犊,并奉上青铜挤乳之器,又以布帛覆护而供献,则得至伐楼那之界(Varuṇa-loka)。

Verse 15

वातरेणुसवर्णा तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्‌ | प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां वायुलोके महीयते

婆悉吒说:若有人布施一头色如风扬尘土之母牛,连同其犊,并奉上青铜挤乳之器,又以布帛覆护而供献,则于风神伐由之界(Vāyu-loka)受人礼敬。

Verse 16

हिरण्यवर्णा पिंगाक्षीं सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्‌ | प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां कौबेरं लोकमश्लुते

婆悉吒说:若有人布施一头金色之母牛,眼呈黄褐(piṅgala),连同其犊,并奉上青铜挤乳之器,又以布帛覆护而供献,则得至俱毗罗之界(Kubera-loka)。

Verse 17

पलालधूम्रवर्णा तु सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्‌ | प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां पितृलोके महीयते

婆悉吒(Vasiṣṭha)说:若有人布施一头颜色如稻草烟霭之牛,并与其犊同施,又以布覆之,兼赠青铜挤乳之器,则其人在祖灵之界——祖先世界(Pitṛloka)中受尊崇而得殊荣。

Verse 18

सवत्सां पीवरीं दत्त्वा दृतिकण्ठामलंकृताम्‌ | वैश्वदेवमसम्बाध॑ स्थान श्रेष्ठ प्रपद्यते

婆悉吒说:若有人将一头膘肥体壮、与其犊同在的母牛,装饰庄严,并系以颈饰(皮带/颈套),施与婆罗门,则无有障碍,直达毗湿毗天众(Viśvedevas)所摄之最胜境界。

Verse 19

समानवत्सां गौरीं तु थेनुं दत्त्वा पयस्विनीम्‌ । सुव्रतां वस्त्रसंवीतां वसूनां लोकमाप्नुयात्‌

婆悉吒说:若有人布施一头色泽皎白、乳汁丰盈之牛,并与同色之犊同施,又以布覆之,自持善行,则得往诸婆苏(Vasus)之界。

Verse 20

पाण्डुकम्बलवर्णाभां सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम्‌ । प्रदाय वस्त्रसंवीतां साध्यानां लोकमाप्नुते

婆悉吒说:若有人布施一头色如淡毯之牛,并与其犊同施,又以布覆之,兼赠青铜挤乳之器,则得往萨陀耶(Sādhyas)之界。

Verse 21

वैराटपृष्ठमुक्षाणं सर्वरत्नैरलंकृतम्‌ । प्रददन्‍मरुतां लोकान्‌ स राजन्‌ प्रतिपद्यते,राजन! जो विशालपृष्ठभागवाले बैलको सब प्रकारके रत्नोंसे अलंकृत करके उसका दान करता है, वह मरुद्गणोंके लोकोंमें जाता है

婆悉吒说:大王啊,若有人布施一头背脊宽阔高隆之公牛,以种种宝珠严饰其身,则得往风神众——摩鲁特(Maruts)之诸世界。

Verse 22

वयोपपन्नं लीलांगं सर्वरत्नसमन्वितम्‌ । गन्धर्वाप्सरसां लोकान्‌ दत्त्वा प्राप्नोति मानव:

瓦西什塔说道:凡施舍一头正当壮年的公牛——体格健壮、肢体俊美,并以各类珍宝悉心装饰——便能往生乾闼婆与阿普萨罗的天界诸境。

Verse 23

दृतिकण्ठमनड्वाहं सर्वरत्नैरलंकृतम्‌ । दत्त्वा प्रजापतेलोकान्‌ विशोक: प्रतिपद्यते

瓦西什塔说道:若有人将一头强健的公牛——颈项粗壮,能负车载之重,并以诸宝严饰——施与婆罗门,便得往生生主(Prajāpati)之诸界,离忧无悲。

Verse 24

गोप्रदानरतो याति भित्त्वा जलदसंचयान्‌ | विमानेनार्कवर्णेन दिवि राजन्‌ विराजते

瓦西什塔说道:大王啊,凡以至诚热忱专志于施牛之人,将乘坐日色辉煌的天车,穿破层层云聚,上升天界,并在彼处光耀显赫。

Verse 25

तं॑ चारुवेषा: सुश्रोण्य:ः सहस्न॑ सुरयोषित: । रमयन्ति नरश्रेष्ठ गोप्रदानरतं नरम्‌,उस गोदानपरायण श्रेष्ठ मनुष्यको मनोहर वेष और सुन्दर नितम्बवाली सहस्ोरों देवांगनाएँ (अपनी सेवासे) रमण कराती हैं

瓦西什塔说道:人中最胜者啊,那专志施牛之人,将有成千天女——衣饰华美,腰胯娉婷——前来侍奉取悦,使其欢娱。

Verse 26

वीणानां वल्लकीनां च नूपुराणां च सिज्जितै: । हासैश्न हरिणाक्षीणां सुप्त: स प्रतिबोध्यते

他纵然沉睡,也会被维纳琴与瓦拉基琴的甜美回响所唤醒,被女子脚铃的清脆叮当所唤醒,又被那群鹿眼少女的嬉笑之声所唤醒。

Verse 27

यावन्ति रोमाणि भवन्ति धेन्वा- स्तावन्ति वर्षाणि महीयते सः । स्वर्गच्युतश्नापि ततो नूलोके प्रसूयते वै विपुले गृहे स:

婆悉吒(Vasiṣṭha)说道:“母牛身上有多少根毛,施牛之人便在天界受尊崇多少年。待其福德耗尽,自天界坠落时,便复生于人间,投生在富足兴盛之家。”

Verse 79

इति श्रीमहा भारते अनुशासनपर्वणि दानधर्मपर्वणि गोप्रदानिके एकोनाशीतितमो<ध्याय:

如是,在可敬的《摩诃婆罗多》中,于《教诫篇》(Anuśāsana Parva)之内——在论施舍之法(dāna-dharma)的段落、关于施牛(go-dāna)的章次——第八十九章至此终了。

Frequently Asked Questions

The chapter prescribes reverence and benefaction toward cows—especially through go-dāna and service—arguing that cows are materially and ritually indispensable to yajña and socially sustaining to agrarian life.

Cows are presented as both a limb of yajña and as effectively constitutive of yajña because key offerings (milk products such as dadhi and ghṛta) are prerequisites for ritual continuity and for havya/kavya transactions.

Yes. The discourse states that recitation/teaching to brāhmaṇas in sacrificial and ancestral contexts yields durable merit; devotion to cows is further linked to attainment of desired aims such as progeny, spouse, wealth, dharma, learning, and happiness.