Varaha Purana 105.10: Adhyaya 105, Shloka 10
Ritual Procedure for the Gift of the Milk-Cow
Kṣīradhenu
Pūrva Bhāga · Dāna-vidhi (Ritual Gifts) — Mantra and Recipient Formulae
आप्यायस्वेति मन्त्रेण वेदोक्तेन विधानतः ॥ आश्रयः सर्वभूतानामित्यादि नरपुङ्गव
āpyāyasveti mantreṇa vedoktena vidhānataḥ || āśrayaḥ sarvabhūtānām ityādi narapuṅgava
ApyAyasveti mantreNa vedoktena vidhAnataH || AshrayaH sarvabhUtAnAmityAdi narapu~Ngava
वेद में लिखा मंत्र पढ़ो, 'आप्यायस्व' से शुरू करके। फिर दूसरा मंत्र भी पढ़ो जो बोलता है कि भगवान सब का आश्रय है।
Sandhi Notes
- āpyāyasveti → āpyāyasu iti
- vedoktena → veda-uktena
- ityādi → iti ādi
- sarvabhūtānām → sarva-bhūtānām.
Varāha
Attentive
Which specific Vedic mantras authorize and empower the donation, and how are they to be applied in sequence?
Purāṇic dharma is validated through Vedic intertext; mantra is not ornament but the authorizing principle of rite.
When performing dāna, learn the correct mantras and apply them in prescribed order rather than improvising.
The verse foregrounds Vedic mantra as the ‘yajña-body’ of dāna: the cow-gift becomes a micro-yajña where speech (mantra) consecrates matter (dravya).
Mantra functions like the yajña’s prāṇa; the cow as dhenu embodies abundance (āpyāyana) and refuge (āśraya) for beings—echoing the cosmic-support motif often attributed to Viṣṇu/Varāha.
Links ritual act to ṛta/dharma: the cosmos is sustained by properly ordered action and sanctified speech; giving becomes participation in cosmic maintenance (loka-saṅgraha).
Perform the rite with Veda-cited mantras—beginning ‘Āpyāyasva…’—and with the formula beginning ‘Āśrayaḥ sarvabhūtānām…’, following proper vidhi.
Vedic anchoring (veda-ukta) strengthens ritual validity and fruit; ignoring vidhi risks becoming mere laukika giving with diminished spiritual efficacy.
Varāha Purāṇa 105.13 (recipient’s mantra role)
FAQs
It demonstrates how Purāṇic ritual manuals legitimize practice by referencing Vedic mantra incipits, indicating a layered ritual canon.
No geographic location is identified.
The verse promotes procedural integrity: donations should be conducted according to established textual guidelines rather than personal improvisation.
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