Varaha Purana 138.56: Adhyaya 138, Shloka 56
The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird
and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit
Pūrva Bhāga · Ancestor Rites and Prepared Gifts (Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Go-dāna)
स्नाताः सन्तर्प्य च पितॄन्मम वस्त्रविभूषिताः ॥ गावो विंशतिसाहस्रा याः पूर्वमुपकल्पिताः
snātāḥ santarpya ca pitṝn mama vastravibhūṣitāḥ || gāvo viṁśatisāhasrā yāḥ pūrvam upakalpitāḥ
snAtAH santarpya cha pitRRInmama vastravibhUShitAH || gAvo viMshatisAhasrA yAH pUrvamupakalpitAH
सब लोग नहाए और अपने पुरखों को भी भोग लगाके खुश किया। नए कपड़े पहने। वो बीस हज़ार गायें जो पहले से तैय थीं, अब उन्हें आगे भेजा।
Sandhi Notes
- viṁśatisāhasrā → viṁśati-sāhasrāḥ
- pūrvamupakalpitāḥ → pūrvam upakalpitāḥ
Varāha
Repayment of debts: pitṛ-ṛṇa through tarpaṇa/śrāddha and loka-saṅgraha through generous dāna (especially go-dāna).
Integrate gratitude to ancestors with tangible charity; perform ancestral remembrance and follow it with meaningful giving rather than mere ritual formality.
After bathing, one should perform pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha and then undertake dāna—here, large-scale go-dāna—while maintaining auspicious decorum.
Pitṛ satisfaction supports lineage welfare and grants blessings; go-dāna yields great puṇya and is praised as a powerful means for upliftment of donor and ancestors; neglect of pitṛ rites is said to cause pitṛ-asantoṣa and obstacles.
Cow-gift resonates with Vaiṣṇava ethos but no explicit Kṛṣṇa/Mathurā linkage stated
Varāha Purāṇa 138.62 (proper recipient and vidhi for receiving)
FAQs
It links ancestor-rites with charitable distribution, showing how remembrance of predecessors and social giving are integrated within Purāṇic ritual narratives.
No location is specified in this verse.
The ethical emphasis is on reciprocity and continuity: honoring ancestors while supporting the living through prepared gifts.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
