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Yudhishthira wanted to know the virtues and benefits of Godana. Bhishma explained to him the main benefits of godana.

The cow is to be given along with the calf. The cow must be of a good quality. If it is covered with clothes and then given to the Brahmin, all the sins of the giver will be forgiven. If one gifts a cow that does not drink water, does not eat grass, is handicapped, is old, is sick, and lacks grace, then the giver will fall into the hell full of gloom and darkness.

Never bother a Brahmin by gifting him a cow that harms other with her horns, is inauspicious, sick, taken on loan, lacks strength and is useless. Such a person who gives such a cow will go to hell. The cow to be gifted should be strong, of good quality, young and smells nice. Among the white cows, Kapila is the best.

Surabhi is the mother of the cows which are mothers of the world. Kapila cows are the ones which shine with golden colour. Cows help other creatures to maintain cleanliness. When cows pour their milk which are similar to nectar on to the rivers, from the waves comes foam that is similar to refined nectar.

The cow is reputed to be the noblest creature on earth. She gives the world its livelihood. The lord of the cows is Rudra. Cows supply us nectar in the form of milk. If one gifts a cow he will receive all kinds of blessings. Cows are pure and they are holy creatures. Man gets all his desires fulfilled through godana.

Through godana one gets materials for sacrificial offering, sacrificial rice offered to the ancestors, dedication, peace, fulfilment of responsibilities, transport, and clothes. The young and old people receive strength.^[1]

Bhishma explains to Yudhishihra the conversation between Vasishtha and Saudasa, the Ikshvaku King about godana.

Vasishtha said like this: Cows are aromatic and have many virtues. For all the elements the shelter is cows. Cows bring prosperity to all. They are elements and also materials. They are the basis for permanent growth. They are the basis for prosperity. Whatever is given to the cows is not wasted. They give the best food. They give the deities melted ghee for sacrificial purposes and give people food. Cows have self respect and generosity. They are the results of yajnas. Even if someone has committed bad deeds, he can be freed from all the evils if he gifts a cow.

One who gifts ritualistically a Kapila cow covered by clothes with its calf, along with a brass mug for collecting the milk has won this world and also the world to come. If one gift a young bull, strong and the best among a hundred bulls, with its horns decorated with gold, to a Brahmin who is knowledgeable in the Vedas, the one giving the gift will have prosperity in all different rebirths, whatever might be its number.

Never hate the urine and dung of a cow. Never eat cow meat. If one does not eat cow meat he will have prosperity. Every day think of the goods things of a cow. Speak good things about it. Never insult a cow. If one has bad dreams or nightmares, chant the name of the cow. Take bath in water in which cow dung is dissolved. Dry the cow dung and cover it with a blanket or bed sheet and sleep on it. Don't spit into the dung, urinate on it, or excrete on it. Don't destroy it. Make your seat covered with the leather made from cow hide, clean it with moist cloth, and then sit looking west for taking your meals.^[2]

One who eats silently the food mixed with plenty of ghee will have a lot of cows. Use the ghee to do puja for fire. Give ghee and make people praise the cow. Give ghee as a gift. Eat ghee. By doing these things you will always have a wealth of cows.

Vasishtha talks to Saudasa about how the cows, who wanted to be the noblest of all animals, sought a boon and got it from Bhrahmadeva. Cows wanted to be the most important 'Dakshina' among all in the world. If people wash with cow dung they become clean. Cow dung should be used by people and deities for all suspicious things. If they do that all the elements, all the moving and non-moving creatures will get cleaned and end up in the cow world. I Brahma granted the cows all their wishes and blessed them. Those who bow to cows in the morning will prosper in all ways. Thus the cows became above all elements.

If a Kapila cow with plenty of milk is given away with its calf the giver will become venerable in the world of Brahma. When giving the cow, it should be wrapped in clothes. If a red cow with plenty of milk and the calf is given away, the giver will become respectable in the world of the Sun. If a white cow with plenty of milk and then calf is given away, covering it with clothes, the giver will be revered in the world of the Moon.^[3]

If a white cow with plenty of milk and a calf is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of the Indra. If a black with plenty of milk and a calf is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of Fire. If a cow with black and red colour with plenty of milk and a calf is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of Yama.^[4]

If a cow that has the colour of white foam, with plenty of milk and a calf, is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of Varuna. If a cow with the colour of the dust flying in the wind is given with a brass mug, the giver will be honoured in the world of Air. If a cow that has reddish yellow eyes with golden colour is covered with clothes and gifted, the giver will be respected in the word of the Kubera. If a cow with the colour of hay with plenty of milk and a calf is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of the Ancestors.^[5]

If a fat cow with calf and hanging dewlap is gifted, the giver will be revered in the world of World Deities. If a cow with the colour of a conch with plenty of milk and a calf is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of Demigods. If a cow that has the colour of white blanket, with plenty of milk and a calf, is covered with cloth and gifted, the giver will get reverence in the world of Possibilities.^[6]

If a bull with a fat back wearing all kinds of pearls is gifted, the giver he will reach the world of the Wind. If a full grown blue bull with all kinds of pearls is gifted, the giver will reach the world of Gandharvas. If a bull with a hanging dewlap wearing all kinds of pearls is gifted, the giver will end up in the world of Prajapatis.

A giver of the cow will be honoured for the number of years has the cows has hair on its body. When he has finished enjoyed all his bliss, he will be born in a higher caste.^[7]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

V.Mahabharata ., p. 713

[2]:

Ibid., p. 717

[3]:

Ibid., p. 718

[4]:

Ibid., p. 719

[5]:

Ibid., p. 720

[6]:

Idem.

[7]:

Idem.