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Varaha Purana 104.13 — Adhyaya 104, Shloka 13

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

Madhudhenudāna

मधुवातेति मन्त्रेण दद्यादाशुचिकेन तु ॥ दत्त्वा धेनुं महाराज छत्रिकोपानहौ तथा ॥

madhuvāte ti mantreṇa dadyād āśucikena tu || dattvā dhenuṃ mahārāja chatrikopānahau tathā ||

Mit dem Mantra, das mit „madhuvāta…“ beginnt, soll man die Gabe darbringen, selbst wenn der Spender noch nicht gereinigt ist. Nachdem die Kuh gegeben wurde, o großer König, gebe man auch einen Schirm und Sandalen.

मधुवात“Madhuvāta” (name/word)
मधुवात:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमधु + वात (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (as mantra-śabda)
इतिthus
इति:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; इत्यर्थक-निपात (quotative particle)
मन्त्रेणwith the mantra
मन्त्रेण:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; एकवचन; तृतीया (3rd case, instrumental)
दद्यात्one should give
दद्यात्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद
आशुचिकेनby a pure/clean (person)
आशुचिकेन:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआशुचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; एकवचन; तृतीया (instrumental); विशेषणम् (qualifies giver/agent)
तुindeed / but
तु:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having given)
धेनुम्a cow
धेनुम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (accusative)
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootमहा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग; एकवचन; सम्बोधन (vocative)
छत्रिकumbrella
छत्रिक:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootछत्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (accusative) (elliptic: give [it] with umbrella)
उपानहौa pair of sandals
उपानहौ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootउपानह् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (usage varies); द्विवचन; द्वितीया (accusative dual)
तथाalso / likewise
तथा:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

Varāha (default dialogue framework; vocative ‘mahārāja’ indicates instruction to a king)

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true}

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

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Even if not yet ritually purified, one should promptly perform the Madhuvāta-mantra dāna: gift a cow, and additionally give an umbrella and sandals to the recipient.","karmic_consequence":"Observance yields dāna-puṇya and auspicious afterlife results; neglecting the prescribed gifts diminishes the intended merit of the rite."}

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-yoga / dharma","core_concept":"Right action (dāna) can be enjoined even amid imperfect personal purity when supported by mantra and intent, emphasizing urgency of dharma over delay.","practical_application":"Do not postpone obligatory charity for minor ritual impediments; complete the full set of prescribed supports (cow + travel-protection items) to make the gift effective."}

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

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: dāna-śraddhā

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 104.16–19 (Madhu-dhenū procedure and fruits)

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as a divine instructor addressing a king, prescribing the gifting of a cow along with an umbrella and sandals, with the ‘madhuvāta’ mantra implied as recited.","item_prompts":["Varāha teaching posture (āsana)","listening king with folded hands","cow being led as gift","umbrella (chatra)","sandals (upānah)","ritual water-pot or kusa grass as setting cues"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Varāha with serene authoritative expression instructing a crowned king; warm earthy palette; cow and dāna-items clearly outlined; minimal background with temple-like pillars.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha-teacher with ornate jewelry and halo; gold-leaf emphasis on crown, ornaments, and umbrella; cow rendered richly; king in reverent pose.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined linework; soft shading; Varāha’s calm didactic gesture; detailed textiles for king; naturalistic cow; dāna-items placed foreground.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate courtly scene; Varāha as divine sage-like figure; king seated on carpet; cow and umbrella/sandals as narrative props; cool hills/river suggestion kept subtle."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"injunctive and auspicious","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, didactic, steady"}

C
Classical Literature
D
Dāna (Charity)
P
Purāṇic Prescriptions
A
Ancient Material Culture

FAQs

It records a ritual-technical detail: mantra incipits as identifiers, and the pairing of primary and ancillary gifts, which is typical of Dharmaśāstra–Purāṇa intersections.

No location is specified here; the focus is procedural.

It emphasizes completing a charitable act with proper form (mantra and supplementary items), suggesting that social generosity is structured and teachable.

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