
Kārpāsadhenu-dāna-māhātmya
Ritual-Manual (Dāna-vidhi and Apotropaic Rite)
本章置于《婆罗诃往世书》常见的婆罗诃—大地女神(Pṛthivī)教诲框架中,讲述“棉制之牛”供施(kārpāsadhenu-dāna)作为消灾与积德之法。Hotṛ告诫国王:在昼夜平分(viṣuva)、ayana更替、劫初(yugādi)与日月食等关键时刻,及遭遇行星侵扰(grahapīḍā)、凶梦与不祥之感时,尤宜行此布施。仪轨包括以牛粪涂地、铺设达尔婆草(darbha)与芝麻净坛;安置并装饰象征之牛,供奉衣布、花鬘、香膏、熏香、灯火与供品;并按重量定其施舍等级,严禁欺诈。最后以真言启请,施与具德受者,并作护佑祈愿,求脱离轮回(saṃsāra),使仪式秩序与人间安宁相应。
Verse 1
अथ कार्पासधेनुदानमाहात्म्यम् ॥ होतोवाच ॥ अथातः सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि धेनुं कार्पासकीं नृप ॥ यत्प्रदानान्नरो याति ऐन्द्रलोकमनुत्तम
今当宣说布施“棉牛”之功德。祭司霍多曰:“今者,王啊,我将详述以棉制成之牛;由其布施,人得往无上之因陀罗世界。”
Verse 2
विषुवे त्वयने पुण्ये युगादिग्रहणे तथा ॥ ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु दुःस्वप्नेऽरिष्टदर्शने
于昼夜平分之时,于吉祥之至日之际,亦于劫初之日月食;又当诸星严厉作祟之苦难时,于恶梦之中,及见凶兆之际——
Verse 3
नृणां च ग्रहपीडासु दुःस्वप्नाद्भुतदर्शने ॥ पुण्येष्वायतने राजञ्छुचिदेशे गवां गणे
当人们遭受行星之扰、见到凶梦与异兆之时,王啊——(应行此仪)于具福德的圣所,在清净之地,于牛群之中。
Verse 4
गोमयेनोपलिप्तायां दर्भानास्तीर्य वै तिलान् ॥ तन्मध्ये स्थापयेद्धेनुं वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनाम्
以牛粪涂抹(地面或坛场)之后,再铺设达婆草与芝麻粒,应将母牛安置于中央——以衣布、花鬘与香膏庄严。
Verse 5
धूपदीपादिनैवेद्यैः पूजयেচ्च विमत्सरः ॥ उत्तमा च चतुर्भारैरर्धेनैव तु मध्यमाः
应以无嫉之心,用熏香、灯明与食供而礼敬。所谓“上等”之施,量为四婆罗(bhāra);“中等”为其半。
Verse 6
भारेण चाधमा प्रोक्ता वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जयेत् ॥ चतुर्थांशेन वत्सं तु कल्पयित्वा विधानतः
所谓“下等”据说为一婆罗(bhāra);当远离以财物行欺诈。并应依仪轨,备置一头小牛,量为四分之一。
Verse 7
कर्तव्या रुक्मशृङ्गी तु रजतस्य खुरान्विता ॥ नानाफलमया दन्ता रत्नगर्भसमन्विताः
其应制作为金角,并具银蹄;其齿以诸果塑成,且其内(胎藏)具足宝珠。
Verse 8
इत्येवं सर्वसम्पूर्णा कृत्वा श्रद्धासमन्वितः ॥ आवाहयेत्तां कार्पासधेनुं मन्त्रैर्द्विजातये
如此,将其一切圆满具足而成,并怀至诚专注之信者,应以真言召请那以棉制成之母牛——kārpāsadhenu——以奉与二次生者(dvijāti)为受者。
Verse 9
दद्याद्धेनुं चर्मपाणिः प्रयतः श्रद्धयान्वितः ॥ पूर्वोक्तस्तु विधिः कार्यो दानमन्त्रपुरःसरः
手持兽皮(作仪式之具),身心谨肃并具至诚之信者,应当施与此牛。先前所说之仪轨当依次奉行,并以布施真言为先导。
Verse 10
यया देवगणः सर्वस्त्वया हीनो न वर्तते ॥ तथा उद्धर मां देवि पाहि संसारसागरात्
由汝之力,诸天众神无不具足而不致匮乏;如是,女神啊,亦请拔济于我,护我脱离轮回(saṃsāra)之海。
The chapter presents dāna (charitable gifting) as an ethically regulated practice: it prescribes careful ritual procedure, emphasizes śraddhā (intentional sincerity), and explicitly warns against vitta-śāṭhya (deceit about one’s means or the gift’s quality). The internal logic frames correct giving as a stabilizing social act that counters misfortune and supports orderly life.
The text recommends performance at viṣuva (equinox), during ayana transitions (solar solstice-turnings), on yugādi (a calendrical ‘beginning of an age/period’ marker), and during grahaṇa (eclipses). It also situates the rite in response to grahapīḍā (planetary afflictions), duḥsvapna (bad dreams), and ariṣṭa-darśana (ominous perceptions).
While not explicitly ecological in modern terms, the chapter links ritual purity and orderly giving to the maintenance of auspiciousness in lived space: it requires a śuci-deśa, cow-dung plastering (gomaya-lepana), and careful preparation of the ground with darbha and tilā. In the Varāha–Pṛthivī interpretive frame, such prescriptions can be read as practices that ritualize care for place, livestock-associated landscapes, and communal stability.
The passage addresses a nṛpa (king) and identifies the instructing voice as Hotṛ (a Vedic ritual functionary). No specific dynastic lineage, named sage genealogy, or historical royal house is provided in the excerpt.