Varaha Purana 110.4: Adhyaya 110, Shloka 4

The Glory and Procedure of the Grain-Cow (Dhānyadhenu) Donation

Pūrva Bhāga · Dāna-vidhi (Ritual Gift Procedures) — Dhānya-dhenu Construction/Installation

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिनं ततः कृत्वा प्राग्वत्सं स्थापयेद्बुधः । गोमयेनानुलिप्तायां भूमौ तां परिपूजयेत् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 110.4

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājinaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā prāg-vatsaṃ sthāpayet budhaḥ | gomayenānuliptāyāṃ bhūmau tāṃ paripūjayet ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

फिर काला हिरन का चमड़ा बिछाओ। बुद्धि बात का इंसान बच्चे को पूरब की तरफ मुँह करके रखे। ज़मीन पर गोबर लगा के साफ करो। उसके बाद उसकी पूजा करो।

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Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-ajinam: a black antelope-skin
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: kṛṣṇam ajinam (कर्मधारय)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (अजिन प्रातिपदिक)

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverb (क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)

• kṛtvā: having made/arranged
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having done/made’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)

• prāk-vatsam: the calf facing east
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva: prāk (eastward) qualifying vatsa; meaning ‘east-facing calf’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: prāk (प्राक् अव्यय) + vatsa (वत्स प्रातिपदिक)

• sthāpayet: should place
• Type: Verb
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); causative sense ‘should cause to stand/place’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु) + causative (णिच्)

• budhaḥ: the wise person
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: budha (बुध प्रातिपदिक)

• gomayena: with cow-dung
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: gomaya (गोमय प्रातिपदिक)

• anuliptāyām: (on) smeared
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with bhūmau; meaning ‘smeared’
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: anu-√lip (लिप् धातु) + kta (क्त)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: bhūmi (भूमि प्रातिपदिक)

• tām: her/that (object)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); refers to (dhenu/representation) to be worshipped
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• paripūjayet: should worship
• Type: Verb
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: pari-√pūj (पूज् धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• kṛṣṇājinaṃ → kṛṣṇa-ajinam
• prāgvat्साṃ → prāk-vatsam
• sthāpayet budhaḥ (no sandhi)
• gomayenānuliptāyām → gomayena anuliptāyām.

Speaker and setting

Shanta rasaSetting: Ritual ground

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ritual-ethics (dharma as disciplined action)

Subjects

EthicsRitual StudiesCultural Heritage

Core idea

Outer order (dik, śauca) trains inner attentiveness and reverence, making giving a conscious sacrament rather than mere transfer.

In practice

In any dāna/pujā, keep space clean, follow orientation, and perform worship with deliberate respect before gifting.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Ritual Orientation (Dik)
• Domestic Rite
• Material Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves practical ritual details—orientation, purification of space, and materials—useful for reconstructing domestic/temple-adjacent donation rites in early medieval Sanskrit culture.

Which geographic location is identified?

No place-name appears; the verse specifies directional orientation (east) rather than a site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It emphasizes careful preparation and respectful procedure in acts of giving, linking ethical intent with disciplined ritual form.