Varaha Purana 108.5 — Adhyaya 108, Shloka 5

The Eulogy and Procedure of Donating the ‘Salt-Cow’

Lavaṇadhenu

Devanagari script

सूत्रपुच्छां ताम्रपृष्ठां दर्भरोमां पयस्विनीम् ॥ कांस्योपदोहां राजेन्द्र घण्टाभरणभूषिताम् ॥

Transliteration

sūtrapucchāṃ tāmrapṛṣṭhāṃ darbharomāṃ payasvinīm || kāṃsyopadohāṃ rājendra ghaṇṭābharaṇabhūṣitām ||

Translation

O Herr der Könige: (gestalte es) mit einem Schwanz aus Faden, einem Rücken aus Kupfer, Haaren aus Darbha-Gras und als „Milchtragende“; mit einem Melkgefäß aus Glockenmetall, geschmückt mit Glöckchen und Zierat.

Word by Word

• सूत्र-पुच्छाम्: having a thread-like tail
• सूत्र-पुच्छाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (fem. acc. sg., adjectival)

• ताम्र-पृष्ठाम्: copper-backed / with a copper-colored back
• ताम्र-पृष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• दर्भ-रोमाम्: having darbha-grass-like hair
• दर्भ-रोमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + रोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-giving / lactating
• पयस्विनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• कांस्य-उपदोहाम्: with a bronze milking-vessel
• कांस्य-उपदोहाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कांस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन (address)

• घण्टा-आभरण-भूषिताम्: adorned with bell-ornaments
• घण्टा-आभरण-भूषिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त विशेषण (fem. acc. sg., past participle ‘adorned’)

Speaker

Hotṛ

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","key_question":"What final fittings (tail, back, hair, milking vessel, bells/ornaments) complete the lavanadhenu so it is ritually ‘milk-bearing’ and fit for donation?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Finish the lavanadhenu with thread-tail, copper back, darbha-grass hair, a bell-metal milking vessel, and adorn it with bells and ornaments, presenting it as ‘paysvinī’ (milk-bearing).","karmic_consequence":"Completeness and auspicious adornment signify full śraddhā and confer enhanced merit; an incomplete/inauspicious presentation is a doṣa that weakens the dāna’s fruit."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The ‘milk-bearing’ designation and inclusion of the milking vessel ritualize abundance: the gift is framed not as inert matter but as a living source of nourishment—an ethical ideal of sustaining others.","vedantic_connection":"Transforming objects into a ‘giver of sustenance’ mirrors the Vedāntic ethic of seeing wealth as īśvara-ārpaṇa (offering to the Lord) and loka-saṅgraha (support of the world)."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dāna as sustenance","core_concept":"True giving aims at ongoing nourishment (payaḥ/poshana), not mere display; utility (milking vessel) is part of compassion.","practical_application":"Prefer gifts that enable livelihood and continuity (tools, vessels, resources), and present them respectfully and completely."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual donation setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 108.1–108.4 (construction and materials of the lavanadhenu)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The completed salt-cow stands adorned: thread tail, copper backplate, darbha-grass hair, bells and ornaments; beside it a bell-metal milking pot, presenting the cow as ‘milk-bearing’.","item_prompts":["thread tail","copper back sheen","darbha grass mane/hair","bell-metal (kāṃsya) milking vessel","hanging bells","ornamental garlands"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong copper tones on the back, textured darbha hair, rhythmic bell motifs; ritual attendants preparing to present the gift.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: gold-leaf on ornaments and bell fixtures; copper back rendered with rich metallic paint; prominent milking vessel in foreground.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: nuanced metallic rendering (copper vs bell-metal); detailed bell strings; dignified, complete icon of the dāna-cow.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: charming cow profile with stylized bells; copper back as a warm panel; small milking pot; narrative feel of ‘gift ready to be offered’."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"concluding, auspicious","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"confident, benedictory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Ritual Objects
• Ancient Metallurgy (Textual References)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It provides evidence for the named materials (copper, bell-metal) and ritual grass (darbha) in gift-rite descriptions, supporting cross-disciplinary study with archaeology and material history.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes completeness and dignity in gifting—adornment and functional elements are included as part of responsible donation.