Varaha Purana 105.8 — Adhyaya 105, Shloka 8

Ritual Procedure for the Gift of the Milk-Cow

Kṣīradhenu

Devanagari script

एवं लक्षणसंयुक्तां क्षीरधेनुं प्रकल्पयेत् ॥ आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन गन्धपुष्पैः समर्चयेत्

Transliteration

evaṃ lakṣaṇasaṃyuktāṃ kṣīradhenuṃ prakalpayet || ācchādya vastrayugmena gandhapuṣpaiḥ samarcayet

Translation

এইভাবে উক্ত লক্ষণসমন্বিত ক্ষীরধেনু প্রস্তুত করে, তাকে যুগল বস্ত্রে আচ্ছাদিত করে গন্ধ ও পুষ্প দ্বারা যথাবিধি সমর্চনা করবে।

Word by Word

• evam: thus/in this manner
• evam: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• lakṣaṇa-saṃyuktām: endowed with (these) marks
• lakṣaṇa-saṃyuktām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘endowed with characteristics’; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with kṣīradhenuṃ

• kṣīra-dhenum: the milk-cow (ritual cow)
• kṣīra-dhenum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘milk-cow’; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• prakalpayet: should prepare/construct
• prakalpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kḷp (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• ācchādya: having covered
• ācchādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√chad (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having covered’

• vastra-yugmena: with a pair of garments
• vastra-yugmena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘pair of cloths’; Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• gandha-puṣpaiḥ: with fragrant flowers
• gandha-puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘fragrant flowers’; Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• sam-arcayet: should worship/honor
• sam-arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"How should the kṣīradhenu-dāna be properly prepared and honored before gifting?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Prepare the kṣīradhenu with prescribed auspicious marks, cover her with a pair of garments, and worship with gandha and puṣpa before donation.","karmic_consequence":"Properly honored dāna becomes fully meritorious (puṇya-vardhaka); negligence diminishes the fruit of the gift."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma (right action)","core_concept":"Dāna requires satkāra—honoring the recipient and the gifted object as a sacred trust.","practical_application":"When giving (especially go-dāna), add respectful adornment and pūjā to align intention, act, and sanctity."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ritual Procedure","Ethics of Giving","Ceremonial Honor"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: śṛṅgāra

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual enclosure

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 105 (kṣīradhenu-dāna sequence)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated milk-cow stands adorned; the donor covers her with two garments and offers flowers and fragrant unguents in a calm domestic ritual.","item_prompts":["milk-cow (kṣīradhenu)","pair of cloths draped over the cow","flower garlands","incense/fragrance vessel","donor with offering plate","ritual space with kuśa and water pot"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal cow with ornate textile drape, flat warm palette, donor in simple veshti, stylized lotus flowers and incense, temple-like domestic sanctum feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: richly caparisoned cow with gold-leaf highlights on garments and ornaments, donor holding puṣpa-pātra, heavy decorative arch motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft shading, detailed textile patterns on the two garments, gentle devotional ambience.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: pastoral courtyard, lyrical greenery, cow with bright cloth, donor offering flowers; minimal architecture, serene hills implied."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritual-instructional, auspicious","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, didactic, reverent"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna (Gifting)
• Ritual Offerings
• Cultural Heritage

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows the convergence of dāna and pūjā-like honor: the gift is not merely transferred but ceremonially respected before donation.

Which geographic location is identified?

None; the verse describes ritual actions rather than a sacred site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To give with reverence—treating the gift as worthy of honor, not as disposable surplus.