105 - The greatness of Kshiradhenu

The priest said:

1. Listen, O king, I shall tell you about Kshiradhenu (cow of milk) now.

2. On the floor smeared with cow dung over an area of a cow’s hide, spread Kušha grass over a black antelope’s skin.

3. Place on it a small heap of cow dung and over it a pot full of milk, and another, a fourth of its size, to represent the calf.

4. The face is to be of gold, the horns of sandalwood or Agaru, ears to be of brass.

5. The mouth is to be of gur, tongue of sugar, teeth of White seeds and eyes of pearl.

6. The feet are to be of sugarcane, the hairs to be of darbha grass. A white velvet is to be thrown over it. The back is to be of copper and the rest of the body of bronze and tail of silken threads.

7. The udder is to be of butter, the hoofs to be of silver and the five gems.

8. Vessels of sesamum are to be placed on the four sides and those containing seven grains all around.

9. The Kshiradhenu is to be arranged like this, and it should be covered with a pair of cloths and worshipped with sandal paste, flower, dhüpa, dipa etc.

10. Then it should be given away to a Brahmin together with clothes, ear-rings, footwear and Umbrella.

11. Reciting the mantras äpyäyasva etc. and äshrayah sarvabhütãnäm etc.

12. The mantra apyäyasva etc., is also for propitiating the Kshiradhenu. The other mantra is to be recited by the recipient also.

13. This is the rule about this gift. Those who see the gift being made also reach heaven.

14. O king, listen to the benefit of making the gift with a thousand gold coins or a hundred ones or even according to capacity.

15. He who docs this remains in the world of Indra for sixty thousand years.

16. He then goes to the world of Brahma with his departed ancestors and enjoys there for a long time.

17. Anointed with fine perfume and wearing divine garlands, he ascends an aerial car and goes to the world of Vishnu.

18. Which is resplendent like the twelve suns and where swells the vocal and instrumental music and where dance the Apsarases. Living there long he finally becomes one with Vishnu.

19. O king, he who listens to this or recites this with devotion, gets rid of all sins and goes to the world of Vishnu.