Shloka 20

Procedure for the Guḍa-dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift; Ten Dhenu-dānas; Yearlong Gaṅgā Worship and Darśana

Devanagari script

एवमांमत्र्य तां धेनुं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् । विधानमेतद्धेनूनां सर्वासामिह पठ्यते ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

evamāṃmatrya tāṃ dhenuṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedayet | vidhānametaddhenūnāṃ sarvāsāmiha paṭhyate || 20 ||

Translation

Así, después de dirigirse con respeto al receptor, debe presentarse formalmente esa vaca a un brāhmaṇa. Éste es el rito prescrito para el don de todas las vacas, tal como aquí se enseña.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• आमन्त्र्य: having invited/addressed
• आमन्त्र्य: Kriyā (अनुबन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having invited/addressed)

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• धेनुम्: cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√विद्/√वेद् (धातु) (निवेदयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधानम्: the procedure/ordinance
• विधानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of विधानम्)

• धेनूनाम्: of cows
• धेनूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• सर्वासाम्: of all
• सर्वासाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of धेनूनाम्)

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• पठ्यते: is recited/read
• पठ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the tirtha-mahatmya/ritual instruction context of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes that charity (dāna) becomes spiritually efficacious when performed with proper etiquette—respectful address, correct procedure (vidhāna), and offering to a qualified brāhmaṇa—so the act is aligned with dharma rather than mere material transfer.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While not directly describing bhakti practices, it supports devotional life by teaching reverent conduct and selfless giving; such dharmic offerings cultivate humility and purity that traditionally support Vishnu-bhakti and sacred merit in tīrtha contexts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (vidhi) and formal presentation (nivedana) consistent with kalpa-style practice—how an act like dhenu-dāna is to be executed with proper respectful address and prescribed steps.