Chapter 74
“Indra said, ‘I wish to know, O Grandsire, what the end is that isattained by him who consciously steals a cow or who sells one frommotives of cupidity.”
“The Grandsire said, ‘Hear what the consequences are that overtake thosepersons that steal a cow for killing her for food or selling her forwealth, or making a gift of her unto a Brahmana. He, who, without beingchecked by the restraints of the scriptures, sells a cow, or kills one,or eats the flesh of a cow, or they, who, for the sake of wealth, suffera person to kill kine,–all these, viz., he that kills, he that eats, andhe that permits the slaughter,–rot in hell for as many years as thereare hairs on the body of the cow so slain.[364] O thou of greatpuissance, those faults and those kinds of faults that have been said toattach to one that obstructs a Brahmana’s sacrifice, are said to attachto the sale and the theft of kine. That man, who, having stolen a cowmakes a gift of her unto a Brahmana, enjoys felicity in heaven as thereward of the gift but suffers misery in hell for the sin of theft for aslong a period. Gold has been said to constitute the Dakshina, O thou ofgreat splendour, in gifts of kine. Indeed, gold has been said to be thebest Dakshina in all sacrifices. By making a gift of kine one is said torescue one’s ancestors to the seventh degree as also one’s descendants tothe seventh degree. By giving away kine with Dakshina of gold one rescuesone’s ancestors and descendants of double the number. The gift of gold isthe best of gifts. Gold is, again, the best Dakshina. Gold is a greatcleanser, O Sakra, and is, indeed, the best of all cleansing objects. Othou of a hundred sacrifices, gold has been said to be the sanctifier ofthe entire race of him who gives it away. I have thus, O thou of greatsplendour, told thee in brief of Dakshina.’
“Bhishma said, ‘Even this was said by the Grandsire unto Indra, O chiefof Bharata’s race! Indra imparted it unto Dasaratha, and Dasaratha in histurn unto his son Rama, Rama of Raghu’s race imparted it unto his dearbrother Lakshmana of great fame. While dwelling in the woods, Lakshmanaimparted it unto the Rishis. It has then come down from generation togeneration, for the Rishis of rigid vows held it amongst themselves asalso the righteous kings of the earth. My preceptor, O Yudhishthira,communicated it to me. That Brahmana, who recites it every day in theassemblies of Brahmanas, in sacrifices or at gifts of kine, or when twopersons meet together, obtains hereafter many regions of inexhaustiblefelicity where he always resides with the deities as his companions. Theholy Brahman, the Supreme Lord, had said so (unto Indra on the subject ofkine).'”
