Varaha Purana 104.2: Adhyaya 104, Shloka 2

The Eulogy and Procedure of the ‘Honey-Cow’ Gift

Madhudhenudāna

Pūrva Bhāga · Dāna-vidhi (Ritual Gift Instructions) — Madhu-dhenū (Honey-Cow) Construction

Devanagari script

सौवर्णं तु मुखं कृत्वा शृङ्गाण्यगुरुचन्दनैः॥ पृष्ठं ताम्रमयं कृत्वा सास्रां पटमयीं तथा॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 104.2

Transliteration

sauvarṇaṃ tu mukhaṃ kṛtvā śṛṅgāṇy aguru-candanaiḥ || pṛṣṭhaṃ tāmra-mayaṃ kṛtvā sāsrāṃ paṭa-mayīṃ tathā ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

मुह सोनेसे बनाओ। सींग अगर और चंदन के। पीछे का हिस्सा तांबे का बनाओ। कपड़ा भी सही तरह से बनाओ।

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Word by Word

• sauvarṇam: golden
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण (qualifier)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: sauvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• tu: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Particle (निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Root: tu (अव्यय)

• mukham: face/mouth
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)

• kṛtvā: having made
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having made/done’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)

• śṛṅgāṇi: horns
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)

• aguru-candanaiḥ: with aloe-wood and sandalwood
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: aguru (प्रातिपदिक) + candana (प्रातिपदिक)

• pṛṣṭham: back
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)

• tāmra-mayam: made of copper
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तद्धितार्थ/मयट्-प्रत्ययार्थ ‘made of’; तत्पुरुष (material relation)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)

• kṛtvā: having made
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)

• sa-asrām: blood-stained/with blood
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with blood’ (सह-सम्बन्ध)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्गवत्) + asra (प्रातिपदिक)

• paṭa-mayīm: made of cloth
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘made of cloth’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: paṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)

• tathā: thus/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)

Sandhi Notes

• aguru-candanaiḥ treated as द्वन्द्व compound
• sa-asrām resolved from सास्रां = स + आस्रां/अस्रां (interpreted ‘with blood’)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasa

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethics of offering-quality

Subjects

Ritual EconomyMaterial CultureEthics

Core idea

The quality and intentional design of what is given matters; excellence in dāna expresses respect for recipient, rite, and deity.

In practice

Give thoughtfully—clean, complete, and appropriate; align outer generosity with inner purity and non-showy reverence.

Symbolism of the boar

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dāna (Gift-ritual)
• Indic Material Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a prescriptive template for high-status ritual gifting (dāna), reflecting artisanal materials and symbolic valuation in Purāṇic-era religious economy.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic toponym appears in this verse; it is procedural rather than place-centered.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To offer gifts with careful preparation and appropriate materials, emphasizing conscientious generosity rather than mere display.