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

So soll man, nachdem man die milchgebende Kuh mit diesen Merkmalen bereitet hat, sie mit einem Paar Gewänder bedecken und sie mit Düften und Blumen verehren.

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.