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Varaha Purana 104.10 — Adhyaya 104, Shloka 10

The Eulogy and Procedure of the ‘Honey-Cow’ Gift

Madhudhenudāna

Devanagari script

दद्याद्विप्राय धेनुं तां मन्त्रपूर्वां विचक्षणः॥ पुच्छदेशोपविष्टस्तु गन्धधूपादिपूजिता॥ आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन मुद्रिकावर्णमात्रकैः॥ स्वशक्त्या दक्षिणां दत्त्वा वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः॥ जलपूर्वं तु कर्त्तव्यं पश्चाद्यानं समर्पयेत्॥ रसज्ञा सर्वदेवानां सर्वभूतहिते रता॥

Transliteration

dadyād viprāya dhenuṃ tāṃ mantra-pūrvāṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ || puccha-deśopaviṣṭas tu gandha-dhūpādi-pūjitā || ācchādya vastra-yugmena mudrikā-varṇa-mātrakair || sva-śaktyā dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā vitta-śāṭhya-vivarjitaḥ || jala-pūrvaṃ tu kartavyaṃ paścād yānaṃ samarpayet || rasa-jñā sarva-devānāṃ sarva-bhūta-hite ratā ||

Translation

Ein Einsichtiger soll jene Kuh einem gelehrten Brahmanen schenken, von Mantras eingeleitet. An der Schwanzgegend sitzend und mit Duft, Weihrauch und dergleichen geehrt, sie mit einem Paar Gewänder bedeckend und mit Münzzeichen kennzeichnend, und Dakṣiṇā nach eigener Kraft gebend—frei von Täuschung hinsichtlich des Vermögens—soll man zuerst die Wasserspende vollziehen; danach das Fahrzeug (die Beförderung) darbringen. Sie gilt als „Kennerin der Essenz“ für alle Götter und als dem Wohl aller Wesen zugetan.

Word by Word
दद्यात्should give
दद्यात्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
विप्रायto a brāhmaṇa
विप्राय:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
धेनुम्the cow
धेनुम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
ताम्that
ताम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
मन्त्र-पूर्वाम्preceded by mantras
मन्त्र-पूर्वाम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मन्त्रः पूर्वः यस्याः/मन्त्रेण पूर्वा)
विचक्षणःthe discerning one
विचक्षणः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (agent)
पुच्छ-देश-उपविष्टःseated at the tail-region
पुच्छ-देश-उपविष्टः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + उपविष्ट (√विश् धातु, उपसर्ग उप + क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-कृदन्त ‘seated’; ‘seated at the tail-region’
तुindeed/and
तु:
Discourse particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात
गन्ध-धूप-आदि-पूजिताworshipped with perfume, incense, etc.
गन्ध-धूप-आदि-पूजिता:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + धूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + पूजित (पूज् धातु, क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-कृदन्त; (धेनुः) गन्धधूपादिभिः पूजिता
आच्छाद्यhaving covered
आच्छाद्य:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootआ-√छद् (धातु)
Formल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having covered’
वस्त्र-युग्मेनwith a pair of cloths
वस्त्र-युग्मेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootवस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वस्त्रयोः युग्मम्)
मुद्रिका-वर्ण-मात्रकैःwith small tokens/marks of ring-color (i.e., ring-like marks)
मुद्रिका-वर्ण-मात्रकैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमुद्रिका (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मुद्रिकायाः वर्णः; तस्य मात्रकाः = small tokens/marks)
स्व-शक्त्याaccording to one’s capacity
स्व-शक्त्या:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वा शक्ति:)
दक्षिणाम्a gift/fee
दक्षिणाम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), ‘having given’
वित्त-शाठ्य-विवर्जितःfree from stinginess/deceit about wealth
वित्त-शाठ्य-विवर्जितः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootवित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शाठ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (वि-√वृज्/वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-कृदन्त; ‘free from deceit regarding wealth’
जल-पूर्वम्with water first
जल-पूर्वम्:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootजल (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘with water first / preceded by water’
तुindeed
तु:
Discourse particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात
कर्तव्यम्should be done
कर्तव्यम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formकृदन्त—तव्यत् (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः ‘it should be done’
पश्चात्afterwards
पश्चात्:
Kāla (काल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपश्चात् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (afterwards)
यानम्a vehicle/ride
यानम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
समर्पयेत्should offer
समर्पयेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-√अर्प् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should offer/dedicate’
रस-ज्ञाknowing the essence
रस-ज्ञा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootरस (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रसस्य ज्ञा = knowing the essence/taste)
सर्व-देवानाम्of all the gods
सर्व-देवानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे देवाः)
सर्व-भूत-हितेin the welfare of all beings
सर्व-भूत-हिते:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां भूतानां हितम्)
रताengaged/delighting
रता:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootरत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम् धातु, क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘engaged/delighting’
Speaker

Varāha (default, instructional voice)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Give the cow with mantra, worship her with gandha-dhūpa, cover with garments and tokens, give dakṣiṇā without deceit, perform jalapūrva first, then offer a vehicle.","karmic_consequence":"Truthful, capacity-based dakṣiṇā and complete honoring of the gift-object yield full puṇya and divine satisfaction; wealth-deceit (vitta-śāṭhya) taints the act and reduces/negates merit."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The cow as ‘rasajñā’ and ‘sarvadeva-mayī’ functions as a portable yajña-field: honoring her equals honoring the deities and beings, aligning dāna with cosmic maintenance (loka-saṃgraha).","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Not explicit Varāha-body mapping; implicit yajña logic: mantra + pūjā + dakṣiṇā + jalapūrva = sacrificial completeness transferred into dāna.","vedantic_connection":"Ethical purification of artha (through non-deceit and welfare-intent) supports sattva and loka-hitārtha karma, a practical bridge between pravṛtti-dharma and inner purification."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics + ritual integration","core_concept":"Right giving requires inner honesty (aśāṭhya) and outer completeness (mantra, pūjā, dakṣiṇā), oriented to sarva-bhūta-hita.","practical_application":"Perform dāna with reverence: worship the gift-object, give within means, avoid misrepresentation of wealth, and complete jalapūrva and ancillary offerings."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Procedure","Material Culture"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇā

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (dāna-vedikā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 104.11 (tail-touch and jalapūrva); Varāha Purāṇa 104.13–14 (invocations and acceptance mantra)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A full madhudhenū-dāna ceremony: the cow is perfumed and incensed, draped with two garments, marked with tokens, donor seated near the tail, water-offering performed, then a conveyance is presented.","item_prompts":["incense smoke","perfume vessel","two cloths draped on cow","token/coin marks","donor seated at tail-region","water libation","small cart/vehicle offering"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: elaborate ritual tableau with incense curls, richly patterned cloth on cow, donor seated near tail, brass vessels, subdued sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf on ornaments, vessels, and haloed brāhmaṇa; richly jeweled cow; vehicle rendered as ornate palanquin/cart.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition, delicate ornamentation, clear depiction of jalapūrva and incense, calm devotional faces.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative sequence feel—libation then vehicle—set in a simple courtyard with stylized textiles and gentle colors."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic, reverent","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"solemn, careful enunciation"}

Tags
P
Purāṇic Literature
D
Dāna (Gift-ritual)
S
Sanskrit Ritual Manuals (vidhi)
I
Indic Ethics

FAQs

It combines procedural detail with an explicit ethic against financial deceit, offering a window into how ritual charity was idealized as both formal and morally regulated.

No geographic location is named; the verse is a step-by-step ritual prescription.

To give sincerely (without wealth-deceit), proportionately (according to capacity), and with respectful ritual completeness.

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