Varaha Purana 112.4: Adhyaya 112, Shloka 4

Praise and Procedure of Donating the Two-Faced Kapilā Cow and the Golden Pot

Hema-kumbha

Uttara Bhāga · Dāna–Vrata–Māhātmya (Kapilā-dāna / Homadhenu narrative)

Devanagari script

प्रसूयमाना दानेन किं पुण्यं स्याच्च माधव ॥ एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण जगद्गुरो

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 112.4

Transliteration

prasūyamānā dānena kiṃ puṇyaṃ syāc ca mādhava || etad icchāmy ahaṃ śrotuṃ vistareṇa jagadguro

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

माधव, जब यह गाय दान में दी जाती है, तो उससे कितना पुण्य मिलता है? मैं यह पूरा डिटेल में सुनना चाहती हूँ, जगत के गुरु।

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Word by Word

• प्रसूयमाना: being brought forth / giving birth
• Type: Verb
• Form: कृदन्त: शानच् (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदी वर्तमान कृदन्त; present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: प्र+सू (धातु)

• दानेन: by (the act of) giving/donation
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)

• किम्: what
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• स्यात्: would be / may be
• Type: Verb
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: अस् (धातु)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
• Role: Nipata (निपात)
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• माधव: O Mādhava
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)

• एतत्: this
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: इष् (धातु)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• Type: Verb
• Form: कृदन्त: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable infinitive)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive complement)
• Root: श्रु (धातु)

• विस्तरेण: in detail
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental of manner)
• Role: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Adverbial manner)
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)

• जगद्गुरो: O teacher of the world
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः गुरुः)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: जगत्-गुरु (प्रातिपदिक; components: जगत् + गुरु)

Sandhi Notes

• स्याच्च = स्यात् + च
• एतदिच्छामि = एतत् + इच्छामि
• जगद्गुरो = जगत् + गुरो (sandhi: त् + ग → द्ग)

Speaker and setting

Bhakti rasa

Speaker

Pṛthivī (Dharaṇī)

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

She asks

Her state of mind

Curious; earnest; seeking detailed puṇya-phala of dāna

What she asks

What specific merit (puṇya) arises when the Kapilā/homadhenu is given as a gift, and how is it to be understood in detail?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Karma-phala reasoning within dharma

Subjects

EthicsRitual CulturePhilosophy of Merit (Puṇya)

Core idea

Merit is not merely assumed; it is to be understood through revealed instruction, with attention to act, intention, and proper object of gift.

In practice

Before performing major dāna, seek detailed guidance on procedure and intended fruit; align motivation with dharma rather than display.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

Addressed as Mādhava/jagad-guru; pedagogical relationship implied rather than physical interaction

Dharma

Mathura and Krishna

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dāna Traditions
• Purāṇic Pedagogy

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies the Purāṇic method of ethical instruction through inquiry, treating dāna (gift-giving) as a topic requiring precise explanation and contextual nuance.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds responsible learning: ethical acts like dāna should be understood with clarity about their intent and consequences.