Chapter 6.17 - Godana—Its manner and the greatness

There is no greater virtuous act in the world than godana. If one gifts a cow obtained in a just manner, in a proper way, in the right manner, the giver's life will proper and his caste will be elevated. These conventions are codified for the good people and they are published for the benefit of all.

Once King Mandhatav became sceptical about the principle of Godana and he asked Brihaspati for clarification.Brihaspati replied thus:

“The one giving the gift should invite the receiver to his home and treat him properly. Then the guest must be told he should come again at a particular time.^[1] Later a red cow^[2] should be chosen to be given away as a gift. Then the one giving the gift should call the cow ‘samange’ and ‘bahule’. He then should go amongst the cows and pronounce like this, 'The cow is my mother and the bull is my father. My heaven and my worldly joy is the cow. The cow is my blessing and my support in this world.”

After pronouncing this, he should spend the night with the cow. When the gift is made this pronouncement should be repeated. He should sleep on the bare floor of the stable suffering biting from ants and bugs and also suffering the extreme cold of the stable. Whatever pains and biting the cow suffers, the same must be suffered by the giver. Thus if one suffers with the cow all his sins will go away.

On the following day early morning if the cow is gifted along with the bull and also the calf, the giver will get heaven. By pronouncing the incantation he will receive all kinds of prosperity.

This is how the incantation should be made:

“The cow is the giver of strength and power. It is essential in yajnas. It is the cause for the existence of the world. It is the anchor of the earth. It makes the world flow in the right direction.Let my sins be forgiven through the powerful rays of the cows. Let the friendly cows help me to reach heaven. Let them bless me like a mother. Let them give me all kinds of prosperity even without asking. Let them protect my body from all sicknesses and my mind from all kinds of afflictions. The five products of the cow are like a panacea for all ills. The cow is keeping herself high for the welfare of all like the River Sarasvati. Whatever you are, I am the same. By giving you as a gift I am giving my soul. As a giver make me prosperous.”^[3]

These are the words to be said while making the gift of a cow.

The one receiving the cow should say like this: "You have become mine. Let the giver and the receiver shine with all the virtues like the sun and the moon." The giver should say the former part and the receiver should say the latter part. If instead of a cow, gold or clothes are given it will also be considered like godana. If clothes are given instead of a cow, the giver must say it is Bhavitavya; if gold is given he should say it is Vaishnavi.

Those who make godana in this way will have bliss in heaven for 36,000 years. If gold or clothes are given in place of a cow, then the giver will have 8000 to 20,000 years of bliss in heaven. The giver will get the result even as he has walked 8 feet towards his home. He will get the result right in this world. If the price of the cow is given instead of the cow, he will be free from all kinds of fears and afflictions. All the three kinds of givers will reach the world of Vishnu and Candra.

The one giving the gift of a cow should spend 3 nights in Ashtami with the cow. On all the three days he should take the urine and dung of the cow.^[4] The one who gifts a bull will receive all the benefits that are received by the person who keeps the vow of celibacy. One who gifts two cows will get all the benefits that a person gets when he studies the Vedas. One who has gifted the cow in a ritually right manner will receive the benefit of the one who has performed a yaga. One who gifts a cow with a lot of milk will get the benefits of the one who has given away valuable diamonds as gifts. Because the products of the cow are precious, those who are not good disciples, who don't keep fasting and abstinence, who are careless and who crooked should not be taught about the glory and virtues of godana.^[5]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

V.Mahabharata 69 p. 706

[2]:

V.Mahabharata . p. 711

[3]:

Idem

[4]:

Idem

[5]:

Kamyashtami belongs to the tribal festival related to cow