Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

रत्नधेनुश्च नवमी दशमी तु स्वरूपतः । कुंभाः स्युर्द्रवधेनूनां चेतरासां तु राशयः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ratnadhenuśca navamī daśamī tu svarūpataḥ | kuṃbhāḥ syurdravadhenūnāṃ cetarāsāṃ tu rāśayaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

La neuvième est la « ratna-dhenu », la vache de joyaux ; la dixième, par sa nature même, est la « svarūpa-dhenu », la vache de la forme essentielle. Pour les vaches faites de substances liquides, les récipients convenables sont des pots (kumbha) ; pour les autres, les offrandes doivent être disposées en tas (rāśi).

Word by Word

• रत्न-धेनुः: jewel-cow
• रत्न-धेनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रत्नस्य धेनुः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• नवमी: the ninth
• नवमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)

• दशमी: the tenth
• दशमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)

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

• स्वरूपतः: by nature/in form
• स्वरूपतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्धितान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘in terms of nature/form’)

• कुम्भाः: pots/jars
• कुम्भाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्युः: should be/are said to be
• स्युः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्रव-धेनूनाम्: of the liquid-cows
• द्रव-धेनूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्रवस्य धेनवः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• इतरासाम्: of the other (ones)
• इतरासाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of धेनूनाम् understood)

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

• राशयः: heaps/piles
• राशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-dāna context; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumāra lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It frames dāna as disciplined dharma: the merit of gifting is strengthened when the offering is prepared in the correct form—liquids in vessels and other substances as measured heaps—showing that intention and proper procedure work together.

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by prescribing orderly, sattvic giving; such regulated charity is treated as an offering that purifies the giver and supports sacred institutions connected with worship and pilgrimage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and measurement—how offerings must be materially arranged (kumbha for liquids, rāśi for solids)—a practical application of kalpa-style ritual discipline used in Purāṇic dāna-vidhi.