Shloka 18

Procedure for the Guḍa-dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift; Ten Dhenu-dānas; Yearlong Gaṅgā Worship and Darśana

Devanagari script

चतुर्मुखस्य या लक्ष्मीर्लक्ष्मीर्या धनदस्य च । लक्ष्मीर्या लोकपालानां सा धेनुर्वरदास्तु मे ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

caturmukhasya yā lakṣmīrlakṣmīryā dhanadasya ca | lakṣmīryā lokapālānāṃ sā dhenurvaradāstu me || 18 ||

Translation

لتكن تلك البقرة الإلهية واهبةَ النِّعَم لي—وهي بعينها لاكشمي لبراهما ذي الوجوه الأربعة، ولاكشمي لدهانادا (كوبيرا)، ولاكشمي لحُماة العوالم (لوكابالا).

Word by Word

• catur-mukhasya: of the four-faced (Brahmā)
• catur-mukhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Ekavacana (sg.); bahuvrīhi: ‘one who has four faces’ (Brahmā)

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• yā: who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• dhanadasya: of Dhanada (Kubera)
• dhanadasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Ekavacana (sg.); epithet of Kubera

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• yā: who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• loka-pālānām: of the world-guardians
• loka-pālānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Bahuvacana (pl.); ‘of the guardians of the worlds’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• dhenuḥ: cow
• dhenuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vara-dā: boon-giving
• vara-dā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); ‘giver of boons’

• astu: may (she) be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada; ‘let (her) be’

• me: for me/to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī vibhakti (Dat. 4th), Ekavacana (sg.); enclitic form

Speaker

Narada (as a stotra/prayer within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Caturmukha)
• Kubera (Dhanada)
• Lokapalas
• Lakshmi
• Dhenu (Sacred Cow)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It identifies the sacred Cow as a living embodiment of Lakṣmī—prosperity, auspiciousness, and divine support—equal to the fortune enjoyed by Brahmā, Kubera, and the Lokapālas, and prays for that same grace to manifest for the devotee.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

The verse models bhakti as humble supplication: acknowledging divine sources of prosperity and seeking boon-bestowing grace through reverence (stuti) toward a sacred manifestation (the dhenu), aligning one’s life with gratitude and dharmic dependence on the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: stotra-recitation and dharmic acts connected with cow-reverence (such as go-dāna) for auspicious results; it is not a technical exposition of vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa in this particular verse.