Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

गुडधेन्वादयो देया भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितैः । तीर्थेषु स्वगृहे वापि गंगातीरे विशेषतः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

guḍadhenvādayo deyā bhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaiḥ | tīrtheṣu svagṛhe vāpi gaṃgātīre viśeṣataḥ || 29 ||

Translation

على من اتّصف بالبهاكتي (bhakti) والشرَدها (śraddhā) أن يقدّم عطايا مثل «غودا-دهينو» (guda-dhenu: بقرةٌ تُهدى مع الجاغري والحلوى) وما شابهها—في التيـرثا (tīrtha) أو حتى في بيته—وخاصةً على ضفاف الغانغا (Gaṅgā).

Word by Word

• guḍa-dhenu-ādayaḥ: jaggery-cow etc. (such gifts)
• guḍa-dhenu-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘guḍa-dhenūḥ ādayaḥ’ = ‘jaggery-cow etc.’ (a class of gifts)

• deyāḥ: are to be given
• deyāḥ: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) + यत्/य (कृदन्त; देय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory) ‘deya’ = ‘to be given’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with guḍadhenvādayaḥ)

• bhakti-śraddhā-samanvitaiḥ: by those endowed with devotion and faith
• bhakti-śraddhā-samanvitaiḥ: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-विशेषण/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त; सम्+√i धातु/समन्वि, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of donors/performers implied); तत्पुरुषः: ‘bhaktyā śraddhayā ca samanvitaiḥ’

• tīrtheṣu: at sacred places
• tīrtheṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sva-gṛhe: in one’s own house
• sva-gṛhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘svasya gṛhe’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) = ‘also/even’

• gaṅgā-tīre: on the bank of the Ganges
• gaṅgā-tīre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘gaṅgāyāḥ tīre’

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = ‘especially/particularly’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that dāna becomes spiritually potent when performed with bhakti and śraddhā, and that sacred geography (especially the Gaṅgā-tīra) amplifies the merit of such offerings.

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

Bhakti here is shown as practical devotion—expressed through generous giving done with inner faith, not merely as ritual formality; the donor’s devotional intent is central.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual praxis (kalpa-oriented dharma): choosing appropriate place (tīrtha), proper intention (śraddhā), and prescribed forms of dāna (e.g., dhenū-dāna/guḍa offerings) as part of dharmic observance.