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Shloka 23

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

पञ्चमी क्षीरधेनुश्च षष्ठी मधुमयी स्मृता । सप्तमी शर्कराधेनुर्दधिधेनुस्तथाष्टमी ॥ २३ ॥

pañcamī kṣīradhenuśca ṣaṣṭhī madhumayī smṛtā | saptamī śarkarādhenurdadhidhenustathāṣṭamī || 23 ||

الخامسة تُدعى «كشِيرا-دهينو» بقرة اللبن، والسادسة تُذكر بأنها «مَدْهو-مَيِي» بقرة من عسل. والسابعة «شَركَرا-دهينو» بقرة السكر، والثامنة «دَدهي-دهينو» بقرة اللبن الرائب.

पञ्चमीthe fifth
पञ्चमी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)
क्षीर-धेनुःmilk-cow
क्षीर-धेनुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षीरस्य धेनुः)
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)
षष्ठीthe sixth
षष्ठी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootषष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)
मधु-मयीmade of honey
मधु-मयी:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमधु (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट् (प्रत्यय) → मधुमय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त विशेषण (made of/consisting of honey)
स्मृताis called/remembered as
स्मृता:
Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
TypeVerb
Root√स्मृ (धातु)
Formकृदन्त; क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन (is remembered/called)
सप्तमीthe seventh
सप्तमी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)
शर्करा-धेनुःsugar-cow
शर्करा-धेनुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशर्करा (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शर्करायाः धेनुः)
दधि-धेनुःcurd-cow
दधि-धेनुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदधि (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दध्नः धेनुः)
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक (likewise/and also)
अष्टमीthe eighth
अष्टमी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)

Narada (in a teaching/narrative context within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It assigns sacred, merit-bestowing identities to specific tithis (5th–8th), portraying them as ‘dhenus’ (wish-fulfilling cows) that symbolically yield auspicious offerings—milk, honey, sugar, and curd—thereby encouraging vrata and dana aligned with each day.

By sacralizing time itself (tithi) and linking it to pure, sattvic substances used in worship, the verse supports bhakti through disciplined observance—offering and restraint performed on these days as a devotional rhythm.

It reflects practical calendrical/ritual timing knowledge—tithi-based observance (a core component of traditional Panchanga usage), guiding when specific vrata, puja, or dana may be performed for enhanced religious efficacy.