“Daksha had a daughter known by the name of Surabhi, who, O bull of Bharata’s race, for benefiting the world, brought forth, by her connection with Kasyapa, a daughter (Nandini) in the form of a cow.  That foremost of all kine, Nandini, was the cow of plenty (capable of granting every desire).  The virtuous son of Varuna obtained Nandini for his Homa rites.  And Nandini, dwelling in that hermitage which was adored by Munis, roamed about fearlessly in those sacred and delightful woods.

“One day, O bull of Bharata’s race, there came into those woods adored by the gods and celestial Rishis, the Vasus with Prithu at their head.  And wandering there with their wives, they enjoyed themselves in those delightful woods and mountains.  And as they wandered there, the slender-waisted wife of one of the Vasus, O thou of the prowess of Indra, saw in those woods Nandini, the cow of plenty.  And seeing that cow possessing the wealth of all accomplishments, large eyes, full udders, fine tail, beautiful hoofs, and every other auspicious sign, and yielding much milk, she showed the animal to her husband Dyu.  O thou of the prowess of the first of elephants, when Dyu was shown that cow, he began to admire her several qualities and addressing his wife, said, ’O black-eyed girl of fair thighs, this excellent cow belongeth to that Rishi whose is this delightful asylum.  O slender-waisted one, that mortal who drinketh the sweet milk of this cow remaineth in unchanged youth for ten thousand years.’  O best of monarchs, hearing this, the slender-waisted goddess of faultless features then addressed her lord of blazing splendour and said, ’There is on earth a friend of mine, Jitavati by name, possessed of great beauty and youth.  She is the daughter of that god among men, the royal sage Usinara, endued with intelligence and devoted to truth.  I desire to have this cow, O illustrious one, with her calf for that friend of mine.  Therefore, O best of celestials, bring that cow so that my friend drinking of her milk may alone become on earth free from disease and decrepitude.  O illustrious and blameless one, it behoveth thee to grant me this desire of mine.  There is nothing that would be more agreeable to me.’  On hearing these words of his wife, Dyu, moved by the desire of humouring her, stole that cow, aided by his brothers Prithu and the others.  Indeed, Dyu, commanded by his lotus-eyed wife, did her bidding, forgetting at the moment the high ascetic merits of the Rishi who owned her.  He did not think at the time that he was going to fall by committing the sin of stealing the cow.

“When the son of Varuna returned to his asylum in the evening with fruits he had collected, he beheld not the cow with her calf there.  He began to search for them in the woods, but when the great ascetic of superior intelligence found not his cow on search, he saw by his ascetic vision that she had been stolen by the Vasus.  His wrath was instantly kindled and he cursed the Vasus, saying, ’Because the Vasus have stolen my cow of sweet milk and handsome tail, therefore, shall they certainly be born on earth!’