is known by the name of Kamya, he should pass three
nights, supporting himself entirely on milk and urine
and dung of the cow.[369] By giving away a bull, one
attains to the merit that attaches to the divine vow
(Brahmacharya). By giving away a couple of kine,
one acquires the mastery of the Vedas. That man
who performs a sacrifice and makes gifts of kine agreeably
to the ritual laid down, attains to many regions of
a superior character. These, however, are not
attainable by the person who is unacquainted with
that ritual (and who, therefore, gives away kine without
observing the scriptural declarations). That man
who gives away even a single cow that yields a copious
measure of milk, acquires the merit of giving away
all desirable things on Earth collected together.
What need, therefore, be said of the gift of many such
kine as yield Havya and Kavya in consequence of their
full udders? The merit that attaches to the gift
of superior oxen is greater than that which attaches
to the gift of kine. One should not, by imparting
a knowledge of this ritual, benefit a person that
is not one’s disciple or that is not observant
of vows or that is bereft of faith or that is possessed
of a crooked understanding. Verily, this religion
is a mystery, unknown to most people. One that
knows it should not speak of it at every place.
There are, in the world, many men that are bereft of
faith. There are among men many persons that
are mean and that resemble Rakshasas. This religion,
if imparted unto them, would lead to evil. It
would be productive of equal evil if imparted to such
sinful men as have taken shelter in atheism.—Listen
to me, O king, as I recite to thee the names of those
righteous monarchs that have attained to regions of
great felicity as the reward of those gifts of kine
which they made agreeable to the instructions of Vrihaspati,
Usinara, Viswagaswa, Nriga, Bhagiratha, the celebrated
Mandhatri the son of Yuvanaswa, king Muchukunda, Bhagiratha,
Naishadha. Somaka, Pururavas, Bharata of imperial
sway to whose race belongs all the Bharatas, the heroic
Rama the son of Dasaratha, and many other celebrated
kings of great achievement, and also king Dilipa of
widely known deeds, all, in consequence of their gifts
of kine agreeable to the ritual, attained to Heaven.
King Mandhatri was always observant of sacrifices,
gifts, penances, kingly duties, and gifts of kine.
Therefore, O son of Pritha, do thou also bear in mind
those instructions of Vrihaspati which I have recited
unto thee (in respect of gifts of kine). Having
obtained the kingdom of the Kurus, do thou, with a
cheerful heart, make gifts of good kine unto foremost
of Brahmanas!’