77 - Mode of worshipping Kapila (the Cow) 

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe to you the mode of worship of Kapila (the cow). The cowshould be worshipped with these mantras. Om salutations to you 0 Kapila, one makes us rejoice, the abode of bliss. Salutations to you. 

2. Om salutations to you O Kapila of good disposition. O Kapila, as effulgent as Surabhi (the divine cow, daughter of Daksha and wife of Kaśyapa). Om Kapila, the good-minded, salutations. Om salutations to the bestower of enjoyment and emancipation. 

3. O Daughter of Surabhi! the Mother of the universe! Giver of ambrosia to the celestials! Granter of boons! Accept this morsel of food and grant me all my desires. 

4. You had been worshipped by Vasishtha and the learned Viśvāmitra. O Kapila! Take away my sins and the bad acts of mine. 

5. (Let there be) cows always in front of me. (Let there be) cows behind me. (Let there be) cows in my heart also. I am dwelling in the midst of cows. 

6. May you accept the morsel of food offered by me. After repetition (of the mantra) let me be pure like Lordshiva. After having worshipped the books of learning oneshould bow at the feet of the preceptor. 

7. Oneshould bathe (again) at noon and worship (Lord)shiva with ashtapuspika. The ashtapuspika is the worship of the image, seat and the limbs of (the image of)shiva. 

8-9. The cooked foodshould be brought into the wellcleansed kitchen at mid-day. Then after the recitation of the mrutyunjaya mantra (that which conquers death) seven times and ending with the vausal, the foodshould be sprinkled with drops of water with the darbha and conch. The entire foodshould first be dedicated toshiva after lifting them up. 

10. Then half of the aboveshould be set apart for oblation at the fire-place. After having purified the fire-place as per rules, the oblation (should be done). 

11-12. Having made the oblation once in the fire around one's navel oneshould gather the seed of fire with the breath drawn in and after taking it through the places of the letters, oneshould meditate on it as "You are the fire of Lordshiva" and itshould be put at the fire-placc. Om hom obeisance to firegod-as also ham obeisance to Soma. 

13. Obeisance to Sun-god, to Jupiter, the lord of people. (Obeisance) to all gods and to all Visvedevas. 

14. Ham obeisance to Agni, for offering a right sacrifice. Oneshould worship these in the east and other directions. After having made oblations ending with the word sudha oneshould bid farewell after seeking forbearance. 

15. Oneshould worship (the god of righteousness) on the right-hand side of the fire-place. "Salutations to the god of righteousness. The lord of unrighteousness (should be worshipped) on the left-handside in a vessel containing sour gruel. 

16. Lord Varuņa (should be worshipped) as the transformer of the sap and as the lord of fire in the waters. Lord of obstacles (Vinayaka) (should be worshipped) at the entrance. Obeisance to Subhagå at the grinding stone. 

17. Om obeisance to Raudrika and Girika. Obeisance; oneshould worship in the mortar. Obeisance to the pestle, the weapon dear to Bala (råma). Itshould be worshipped. 

18-19. The two gods mentioned (should be worshipped) in the broomstick and the god of love in the bed. Having offered oblation to the trunk for the presiding deity of the ground at the middle stump oneshould eat from a golden vessel or in the petals of the lotus etc. The preceptor, the worshipper and the sonshould maintain silence at the time of this vow. 

20-22. (The leaves) of the vataa, asvattha, arka, vätāri, sala and bhallatakashould be discarded. After having rinsed the mouth with water, five oblationsshould be offered with the five prānas (winds in the body) together with the praņava (om) ending with svāhā (oblations). The fire in the bellyshould be kindled. With the secondary winds in one's body) viz., någa, kūrma, krukara, devadatta and dhananjaya, oblations (should be made). Having offered food with the waters of apošana (prayer repeated before and after eating), oneshould drink the rest of the water. 

23. You are an ambrosial seat. Oblations for the vital windsshould be made as before. Oblations to the präņa, apāna, samana, udana, and vyāna. Having eaten food, watershould be sipped. (The mantra for that) is "you are the ambrosial covering." Thus the food and the winds in the body (are worshipped).