Chapter 77 - Mode of worshipping Kapilā (the Cow)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. I shall describe to you the mode of worship of Kapilā (the cow). The cow should be worshipped with these mantras. Oṃ salutations to you O Kapila, one makes us rejoice, the abode of bliss. Salutations to you.

2. Oṃ salutations to you O Kapila of good disposition. O Kapila, as effulgent as Surabhi (the divine cow, daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Kaśyapa). Oṃ Kapila, the good-minded, salutations. Oṃ salutations to the bestower of enjoyment and emancipation.

3. O Daughter of Surabhi! the Mother of the universe! Giver of ambrosia to the celestials! Granter of boons! Accept this morsel of food and grant me all my desires.

4. You had been worshipped by Vasiṣṭha and the learned Viśvāmitra. O Kapila! Take away my sins and the bad acts of mine.

5. (Let there be) cows always in front of me. (Let there be) cows behind me. (Let there be) cows in my heart also. I am dwelling in the midst of cows.

6. May you accept the morsel of food offered by me. After repetition (of the mantra) let me be pure like Lord Śiva. After having worshipped the books of learning one should bow at the feet of the preceptor.

7. One should bathe (again) at noon and worship (Lord) Śiva with aṣṭapuṣpikā. The aṣṭapuṣpikā is the worship of the image, seat and the limbs of (the image of) Śiva.

8-9. The cooked food should be brought into the well-cleansed kitchen at mid-day. Then after the recitation of the mṛtyuñjaya mantra (that which conquers death) seven times and ending with the vauṣaṭ, the food should be sprinkled with drops of water with the darbha and conch. The entire food should first be dedicated to Śiva after lifting them up.

10. Then half of the above should be set apart for oblation at the fire-place. After having purified the fire-place as per rules, the oblation (should be done).

11-12. Having made the oblation once in the fire around one’s navel one should gather the seed of fire with the breath drawn in and after taking it through the places of the letters, one should meditate on it as “You are the fire of Lord Śiva” and it should be put at the fire-place. Oṃ hāṃ obeisance to fire-god—as also hāṃ obeisance to Soma.

13. Obeisance to Sun-god, to Jupiter, the lord of people. (Obeisance) to all gods and to all Viśvedevas.

14. Hāṃ obeisance to fire-god, for offering a right sacrifice. One should worship these in the east and other directions. After having made oblations ending with the word svāhā one should bid farewell after seeking forbearance.

15. One should worship (the god of righteousness) on the right-hand side of the fire-place. “Salutations to the god of righteousness. The lord of unrighteousness (should be worshipped) on the left-handside in a vessel containing sour gruel.

16. Lord Varuṇa (should be worshipped) as the transformer of the sap and as the lord of fire in the waters. Lord of obstacles (Vināyaka) (should be worshipped) at the entrance. Obeisance to Subhagā at the grinding stone.

17. Oṃ obeisance to Raudrikā and Girikā. Obeisance; one should worship in the mortar. Obeisance to the pestle, the weapon dear to Bala (rāma). It should be worshipped.

18-19. The two gods mentioned (should be worshipped) in the broomstick and the god of love in the bed. Having offered oblation to the trunk for the presiding deity of the ground at the middle stump one should eat from a golden vessel or in the petals of the lotus etc. The preceptor, the worshipper and the son should maintain silence at the time of this vow.

20-22. (The leaves) of the vaṭa, aśvattha, arka, vātāri, sāla and bhallātaka should be discarded. After having rinsed the mouth with water, five oblations should be offered with the five priiṇas (winds in the body) together with the praṇava (oṃ) ending with svāhā (oblations). The fire in the belly should be kindled. With the secondary winds (in one’s body) viz., nāga, kūrma, kṛkara, devadatta and dhanañjaya, oblations (should be made). Having offered food with the waters of āpośāna (prayer repeated before and after eating), one should drink the rest of the water.

23. You are an ambrosial seat. Oblations for the vital winds should be made as before. Oblations to the prāṇa, apāna, samāna, udāna, and vyāna. Having eaten food, water should be sipped. (The mantra for that) is “you are the ambrosial covering.” Thus the food and the winds in the body (are worshipped).