Varaha Purana 110.4: Adhyaya 110, Shloka 4

The Glory and Procedure of the Grain-Cow (Dhānyadhenu) Donation

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिनं ततः कृत्वा प्राग्वत्सं स्थापयेद्बुधः । गोमयेनानुलिप्तायां भूमौ तां परिपूजयेत् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 110.4

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājinaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā prāg-vatsaṃ sthāpayet budhaḥ | gomayenānuliptāyāṃ bhūmau tāṃ paripūjayet ||

Translation

Dann, nachdem man ein schwarzes Antilopenfell (kṛṣṇājina) bereitet hat, soll der Weise das Kalb nach Osten ausgerichtet aufstellen. Auf mit Kuhdung bestrichenem Boden soll man es ordnungsgemäß verehren (die gestaltete Opfergabe).

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-ajinam: a black antelope-skin
• kṛṣṇa-ajinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (अजिन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: kṛṣṇam ajinam (कर्मधारय)

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• kṛtvā: having made/arranged
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having done/made’

• prāk-vatsam: the calf facing east
• prāk-vatsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāk (प्राक् अव्यय) + vatsa (वत्स प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva: prāk (eastward) qualifying vatsa; meaning ‘east-facing calf’

• sthāpayet: should place
• sthāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु) + causative (णिच्)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); causative sense ‘should cause to stand/place’

• budhaḥ: the wise person
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (बुध प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gomayena: with cow-dung
• gomayena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya (गोमय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anuliptāyām: (on) smeared
• anuliptāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√lip (लिप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with bhūmau; meaning ‘smeared’

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (भूमि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tām: her/that (object)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); refers to (dhenu/representation) to be worshipped

• paripūjayet: should worship
• paripūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Ritual Orientation (Dik)
• Domestic Rite
• Material Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves practical ritual details—orientation, purification of space, and materials—useful for reconstructing domestic/temple-adjacent donation rites in early medieval Sanskrit culture.

Which geographic location is identified?

No place-name appears; the verse specifies directional orientation (east) rather than a site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It emphasizes careful preparation and respectful procedure in acts of giving, linking ethical intent with disciplined ritual form.