Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

यास्तु पापविनाशिन्यः कीर्तिता दशधेनवः । तासां स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि शास्त्रोक्तं श्रृणु मोहिनि ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

yāstu pāpavināśinyaḥ kīrtitā daśadhenavaḥ | tāsāṃ svarūpaṃ vakṣyāmi śāstroktaṃ śrṛṇu mohini || 21 ||

Translation

Ahora, en cuanto a las diez “vacas” proclamadas como destructoras del pecado, escucha, oh encantadora; describiré su verdadera forma tal como la declaran las escrituras.

Word by Word

• याः: which (those)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• पाप-विनाशिन्यः: sin-destroying
• पाप-विनाशिन्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पापस्य विनाशिनी)

• कीर्तिताः: are declared/mentioned
• कीर्तिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन (agreeing with याः/धेनवः)

• दश-धेनवः: the ten cows (types)
• दश-धेनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (ten cows)

• तासाम्: of those
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वरूपम्: nature/form
• स्वरूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall describe
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future); उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शास्त्र-उक्तम्: as stated in the śāstra
• शास्त्र-उक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (√वच् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of स्वरूपम्); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शास्त्रे उक्तम्)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मोहिनि: O enchantress/deluder (address)
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue, addressing a female interlocutor styled as ‘Mohinī’)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Creates anticipation and wonder by announcing a scriptural taxonomy of ‘ten sin-destroying cows,’ then settles into didactic clarity."}

FAQs

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

It introduces a structured, scripture-based teaching: the ‘ten dhenus’ are presented as specific dharmic gift-forms whose observance is said to remove sin and restore purity.

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

While the verse is framed around dharma (purification through prescribed gifts), it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing śāstra-based conduct that purifies the devotee, making the mind fit for sustained devotion and sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights śāstra-pramāṇa (scriptural authority) and the practical discipline of ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented application), signaling that the upcoming details must be followed as textually prescribed.