13-81-001
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
मया गवां पुरीषं वै श्रिया जुष्टमिति श्रुतम्
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं संशयोऽत्र हि मे महान्
Yudhiṣṭhira said, "I have heard that cow dung has Śrī in it. I have a great doubt about this and wish to hear about it."
13-81-002
भीष्म उवाच
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
गोभिर्नृपेह संवादं श्रिया भरतसत्तम
Bhīṣma replied, "O supreme among the Bhārata lineage! O king! In this connection, an ancient history is recounted about a conversation between cows and Śrī."
13-81-003
श्रीः कृत्वेह वपुः कान्तं गोमध्यं प्रविवेश ह
गावोऽथ विस्मितास्तस्या दृष्ट्वा रूपस्य संपदम्
Śrī assumed a beautiful form and entered amidst cattle. The cows were astounded on seeing her wealth of beauty.
13-81-004
गाव ऊचुः
कासि देवि कुतो वा त्वं रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि
विस्मिताः स्म महाभागे तव रूपस्य संपदा
The cattle asked, "O goddess! Who are you? Where have you come from? How do you possess a beauty that is unmatched on earth? O immensely fortunate one! We are astounded at the wealth of your beauty.
13-81-005
इच्छामस्त्वां वयं ज्ञातुं का त्वं क्व च गमिष्यसि
तत्त्वेन च सुवर्णाभे सर्वमेतद्ब्रवीहि नः
We wish to know who you are and where you will go. O one with the extremely beautiful complexion! Tell us the entire truth."
13-81-006
श्रीरुवाच
लोककान्तास्मि भद्रं वः श्रीर्नाम्नेह परिश्रुता
मया दैत्याः परित्यक्ता विनष्टाः शाश्वतीः समाः
Śrī replied, "O fortunate ones! I am loved by the worlds. I am famous by the name of Śrī. When I abandoned the daityas, they were destroyed for eternity.
13-81-007
इन्द्रो विवस्वान्सोमश्च विष्णुरापोऽग्निरेव च
मयाभिपन्ना ऋध्यन्ते ऋषयो देवतास्तथा
Having obtained me, Indra, Vivasvat, Somā, Viṣṇu, the water and Agni have obtained prosperity and so have the rishis and the other gods.
13-81-008
यांश्च द्विषाम्यहं गावस्ते विनश्यन्ति सर्वशः
धर्मार्थकामहीनाश्च ते भवन्त्यसुखान्विताः
O cattle! Those who hate me are destroyed in every way. They suffer misery and are devoid of dharma, artha and kāmā.
13-81-009
एवंप्रभावां मां गावो विजानीत सुखप्रदाम्
इच्छामि चापि युष्मासु वस्तुं सर्वासु नित्यदा
आगता प्रार्थयानाहं श्रीजुष्टा भवतानघाः
O cattle! These are my powers. Know that I am the one who grants happiness. I wish to always dwell in each of you. O unblemished ones! I have come here to pray that you should be united with Śrī."
13-81-010
गाव ऊचुः
अध्रुवां चञ्चलां च त्वां सामान्यां बहुभिः सह
न त्वामिच्छामि भद्रं ते गम्यतां यत्र रोचते
The cows replied, "You are temporary and fickle. You dwell with many ordinary people. O fortunate one! We do not desire you. Go wherever it pleases you.
13-81-011
वपुष्मन्त्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयाद्य वै
यत्रेष्टं गम्यतां तत्र कृतकार्या वयं त्वया
We think ourselves to be beautiful in every way. Why do we need you now? Go wherever you want. You have already made us successful."
13-81-012
श्रीरुवाच
किमेतद्वः क्षमं गावो यन्मां नेहाभ्यनन्दथ
न मां संप्रति गृह्णीथ कस्माद्वै दुर्लभां सतीम्
Śrī said, "O cattle! Pardon me, but shouldn't you welcome me? Why don't you accept me? I am extremely difficult to obtain.
13-81-013
सत्यश्च लोकवादोऽयं लोके चरति सुव्रताः
स्वयं प्राप्ते परिभवो भवतीति विनिश्चयः
O ones who follow excellent vows in the world! It is certain that a saying in the worlds is true: "If one presents oneself voluntarily, one is refused."
13-81-014
महदुग्रं तपः कृत्वा मां निषेवन्ति मानवाः
देवदानवगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगराक्षसाः
Men, gods, danavas, gandharvas, serpents and rakshasas get me after performing great and fierce austerities.
13-81-015
क्षममेतद्धि वो गावः प्रतिगृह्णीत मामिह
नावमन्या ह्यहं सौम्यास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
O cattle! Pardon me and accept me. O amiable ones! I am not ignored by anything mobile and immobile in the three worlds.
13-81-016
गाव ऊचुः
नावमन्यामहे देवि न त्वां परिभवामहे
अध्रुवा चलचित्तासि ततस्त्वां वर्जयामहे
The cattle replied, "O goddess! We are not disrespecting you. Nor are we slighting you. You are temporary and fickle. That is the reason we are forsaking you.
13-81-017
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन गम्यतां यत्र वाञ्छसि
वपुष्मत्यो वयं सर्वाः किमस्माकं त्वयानघे
What is the need to speak a lot? Go wherever you wish. O unblemished one! All of us possess beautiful forms. Why do we need you?"
13-81-018
श्रीरुवाच
अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि सर्वलोकेषु मानदाः
प्रत्याख्यानेन युष्माभिः प्रसादः क्रियतामिति
Śrī said, "O ones who grant honours! Refused by you, I will be ignored in all the worlds. Show me your favours.
13-81-019
महाभागा भवत्यो वै शरण्याः शरणागताम्
परित्रायन्तु मां नित्यं भजमानामनिन्दिताम्
माननां त्वहमिच्छामि भवत्यः सततं शुभाः
O immensely fortunate ones! You offer protection to those who seek refuge. I am without blemish. Save the one who is always worshipped. O auspicious ones! I desire your respect and will always reside with you.
13-81-020
अप्येकाङ्गे तु वो वस्तुमिच्छामि च सुकुत्सिते
न वोऽस्ति कुत्सितं किंचिदङ्गेष्वालक्ष्यतेऽनघाः
I wish to dwell in any of your limbs, irrespective of how ugly it is. O unblemished ones! Indeed, I do not perceive that any of your limbs is ugly.
13-81-021
पुण्याः पवित्राः सुभगा ममादेशं प्रयच्छत
वसेयं यत्र चाङ्गेऽहं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हथ
You are sacred, auspicious and extremely fortunate. Grant me a place. You should indicate one of your limbs where I may dwell."
13-81-022
भीष्म उवाच
एवमुक्तास्तु ता गावः शुभाः करुणवत्सलाः
संमन्त्र्य सहिताः सर्वाः श्रियमूचुर्नराधिप
Bhīṣma continued, "Thus addressed, the auspicious cattle were overcome with compassion. O lord of men! All of them consulted each other and spoke to Śrī.
13-81-023
अवश्यं मानना कार्या तवास्माभिर्यशस्विनि
शकृन्मूत्रे निवस नः पुण्यमेतद्धि नः शुभे
"O illustrious one! It is indeed our task that we should show you respect. O auspicious one! Therefore, reside in our urine and dung. Both of these are sacred."
13-81-024
श्रीरुवाच
दिष्ट्या प्रसादो युष्माभिः कृतो मेऽनुग्रहात्मकः
एवं भवतु भद्रं वः पूजितास्मि सुखप्रदाः
Śrī replied, "It is through good fortune that you have shown me your favours and your grace. O fortunate ones! It shall be that way. O ones who grant happiness! I have been honoured by you."
13-81-025
भीष्म उवाच
एवं कृत्वा तु समयं श्रीर्गोभिः सह भारत
पश्यन्तीनां ततस्तासां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Bhīṣma continued, "O descendant of the Bhārata lineage! This was the agreement between Śrī and the cattle. While they looked on, she disappeared.
13-81-026
एतद्गोशकृतः पुत्र माहात्म्यं तेऽनुवर्णितम्
माहात्म्यं च गवां भूयः श्रूयतां गदतो मम
O son! I have thus described to you the greatness of cow dung. I will again tell you about the greatness of cattle. Listen to me."