107 - The greatness of Navanitadhenu

The priest said:

1. O king, now listen to the rules relating to Navanitadhenu (cow of butter) by which one gets freed from all sins.

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

3. Place on it a pot containing butter of the measure of one prastha, and another, a fourth of its size, to represent the calf on its northern side.

4. The cow should have horns of gold, eyes of pearl, tongue of gur.

5. Lips of flower, teeth of seeds, dewlap of white threads.

6. Udder of butter, feet of sugarcane, back of copper, hoofs of silver and hair of darbha grass.

7. Four pots of sesamum are to be placed, one on each side.

8. Place a pair of clothes on it, decorate it with sandal paste and flowers, kindle lamps on all sides and then give it away to a Brahmin.

9. The mantras stated for the other Dhenus, should be recited here also, (and in addition).

10. “When the ocean was churned by devas and asuras, the divine ambrosia that arose is this butter. I bow to you, O butter, the elixir of all beings.”

11. Uttering this, the cow should be given to a Brahmin with a family to support, and he should take it to his house.

12. The giver may live on butter for one day and the recipient similarly for three days.

13. He who witnesses the gift of Dadhidhenu gets free from all sins and becomes merged in Shiva.

14. He remains in the world of Vishnu with his ancestors as well as descendants till the end of the world.

15. He who intently listens to this or recites it to others, becomes purified and remains in the world of Vishnu.