Varaha Purana - Adhyaya 103
Varaha PuranaAdhyaya 10316 Shlokas

Adhyaya 103: Ritual Procedure for the Donation of the ‘Sugar-Cow’ (Śarkarā-Dhenu)

Śarkarā-dhenu-dāna-vidhiḥ

Ritual-Manual (Dāna-vidhi) with Ethical-Discourse on Worthy Recipients

Dalam kerangka ajaran Varāha–Pṛthivī, bab ini menjadi pedoman ritual bagi raja tentang pembuatan dan sedekah śarkarā-dhenu (“sapi gula”). Dijelaskan persiapan di tanah yang disucikan (kulit kijang hitam dan rumput kuśa), ukuran proporsional sapi dan anaknya (uttamā, madhyamā, kaniṣṭhā), serta ikonografi dan bahan: benih diletakkan pada empat penjuru, wajah dan tanduk dari emas, mata dari mutiara, dan berbagai makanan, manisan, kain, serta hiasan untuk bagian tubuhnya. Ditentukan pula penerima yang layak: śrotriya, miskin, berbudi, berilmu, memelihara api rumah tangga; yang iri hati dikecualikan. Waktu mujur (ayana, viṣuva, vyatīpāta, akhir hari) dan tata cara pemberian (arah, mantra, dakṣiṇā) diuraikan, lalu ditutup dengan buah karma dan hasil keselamatan rohani bagi pemberi dan pembaca.

Speakers

VarāhaPṛthivī

Key Concepts

Śarkarā-dhenu (ritual gift-cow made of sugar)Dāna-vidhi (procedural gifting protocol)Pātra-parīkṣā (criteria of worthy recipients)Kāla-niyama (auspicious timing: ayana, viṣuva, vyatīpāta)Dik-sthāpana (placing seeds in four directions)Dakṣiṇā and avoidance of vittā-śāṭhya (non-deceit in charity)Puṇya-phala and pāpa-kṣaya (merit and sin-removal claims)
Recitation with translationVaraha Purana Adhyaya 103

Shlokas in Adhyaya 103

Verse 1

होतोवाच तद्वच्च शर्कराधेनुं शृणु राजन् यथार्थतः । अनुलिप्ते महीपृष्ठे कृष्णाजिनकुशोत्तरे ॥ १०३-१ ॥ धेनुं शर्करया राजन् कृत्वा भारचतुष्टयम् । उत्तमा कथ्यते सद्भिश्चतुर्थांशेन वत्सकम् ॥

Hotṛ berkata: “Demikian pula, wahai raja, dengarkan dengan tepat tata cara śarkarā-dhenu, sapi yang dibuat dari gula. Di atas permukaan tanah yang telah diolesi dan disiapkan, dengan kulit kijang hitam dan rumput kuśa dibentangkan sebagai lapisan atas—bentuklah sapi dari gula itu, wahai raja, dengan berat total empat bhāra; menurut para bijak, tingkat ‘utama’ ialah yang memiliki anak sapi sebesar seperempat bagian.”

Verse 2

तदर्धं मध्यमा प्रोक्ता कनिष्ठा भारकेण तु । तद्वद्वत्सं प्रकुर्वीत चतुर्थांशेन तत्त्वतः ॥

Setengah dari itu disebut tingkat ‘menengah’, sedangkan tingkat ‘terendah’ dibuat dengan satu bhāra. Demikian pula, anak sapinya hendaknya dibentuk menurut prinsip yang benar, yakni sebesar seperempat bagian.

Verse 3

अथ कुर्यादष्टशतैरूर्ध्वं नृपतिसत्तम । स्वशक्त्या कारयेद् धेनुं तथात्मानं पीडयेत् ॥

Kemudian, wahai raja yang utama, hal itu boleh dilakukan dengan delapan ratus atau lebih. Menurut kemampuan masing-masing hendaknya ia membuat (dana) dhenu, dan dengan demikian jangan menyusahkan diri sendiri.

Verse 4

सर्वबीजानि संस्थाप्य चतुर्दिक्षु समन्ततः । सुवर्णस्य मुखं शृङ्गे मौक्तिकैर्नयने तथा ॥

Setelah menempatkan segala jenis benih di sekeliling pada keempat penjuru, (hendaknya) dibuat mulut dari emas, dan demikian pula tanduk serta mata dari mutiara.

Verse 5

गुडेन तु मुखं काये जिह्वा पिष्टमयी तथा । कम्बलं पट्टसूत्रेण कण्ठाभरणभूषिताम् ॥

Dan dengan gula merah (jaggery) dibuatlah mulut pada tubuh; demikian pula lidah dibuat dari adonan tepung. Sediakan selimut dengan benang sutra, dihiasi perhiasan pada lehernya.

Verse 6

इक्षुपादां रौप्यखुरां तवनीतस्तनीं तथा । प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणां सितचामरपभूषिताम् ॥

(Buatlah dhenu itu) berkaki tebu, berkuku perak, dan berambing mentega; bertelinga indah laksana daun, serta dihiasi dengan kipas ekor yak berwarna putih.

Verse 7

पञ्चरत्नसमायुक्तां वस्त्रेणाच्छादितां तथा । गन्धपुष्पैरलङ्कृत्य ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ॥

Setelah melengkapinya dengan lima permata, serta menutupinya dengan kain, menghiasinya dengan wewangian dan bunga, hendaknya ia mempersembahkannya kepada seorang brāhmaṇa.

Verse 8

श्रोत्रियाय दरिद्राय साधुवृत्ताय धीमते । वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषे साग्निकाय कुटुम्बिने । अदुष्टाय प्रदातव्या न तु मत्सरिणे द्विजे ॥

Pemberian ini hendaknya diberikan kepada seorang śrotriya (perumah tangga yang terpelajar dalam Weda): yang miskin, berperilaku suci, bijaksana; yang mengetahui Weda dan Wedaṅga, memelihara api suci, serta menanggung keluarga. Berikan kepada brāhmaṇa yang tidak berniat jahat, bukan kepada yang iri hati.

Verse 9

अयने विषुवे पुण्ये व्यतीपाते दिनक्षये । एषु पुण्येषु कालेषु तथाविभवशक्तितः ॥

Pada ayana (titik balik matahari), pada viṣuva (ekuinoks), pada vyatīpāta yang suci, dan pada akhir hari—pada waktu-waktu penuh pahala demikian, hendaknya seseorang memberi sesuai kemampuan dan daya miliknya.

Verse 10

सत्पात्रञ्च द्विजं दृष्ट्वा आगतं श्रोत्रियं गृहे । तादृशाय प्रदातव्या पुच्छदेशे विमृश्य च ॥

Setelah melihat seorang dvija yang layak—seorang śrotriya—datang ke rumah, hendaknya pemberian diserahkan kepada orang demikian, setelah menyentuh atau memeriksa bagian ekor sapi sesuai ketentuan.

Verse 11

पूर्वाभिमुखमास्थाय अथवा स उदङ्मुखः । गां पूर्वाभिमुखीं कृत्वा वत्समुत्तरतो न्यसेत् ॥

Dengan menghadap ke timur—atau menghadap ke utara—setelah menempatkan sapi menghadap timur, hendaknya anak sapi diletakkan di sisi utaranya.

Verse 12

दानकाले तु ये मन्त्रास्तान्पठित्वा समर्पयेत् । सम्पूज्य विधिवद्विप्रं मुद्रिकाकर्णभूषणैः ॥

Pada saat memberi, setelah melafalkan mantra-mantra yang ditetapkan, hendaknya ia menyerahkan persembahan itu. Dan setelah memuliakan brāhmaṇa menurut tata cara, hendaknya ia juga mempersembahkan cincin serta perhiasan telinga.

Verse 13

स्वशक्त्या दक्षिणा देया वित्तशाठ्यविवर्ज्जितः । हस्ते तु दक्षिणां दत्त्वा गन्धपुष्पसचन्दनाम् । धेनुं समर्पयेत्तस्य मुखञ्च च विलोकयेत् ॥

Dakṣiṇā hendaknya diberikan sesuai kemampuan, tanpa kikir terhadap harta. Setelah meletakkan dakṣiṇā di tangannya—beserta wewangian, bunga, dan cendana—hendaknya mempersembahkan sapi itu, lalu memandang wajahnya.

Verse 14

एकाहं शर्कराहारो ब्राह्मणस्त्रिदिनं वसेत् । सर्वपापहरा धेनुः सर्वकामप्रदायिनी ॥

Selama satu hari, dengan bersantap gula, sang brāhmaṇa hendaknya menjalani laku selama tiga hari. Sapi dikatakan menghapus segala dosa dan menganugerahkan semua tujuan yang diinginkan.

Verse 15

सर्वकामसमृद्धस्तु जायते नात्र संशयः । दीयमानं प्रपश्यन्ति ते यान्ति परमां गतिम् ॥

Seseorang menjadi dianugerahi kelimpahan pemenuhan segala tujuan—tanpa keraguan. Mereka yang menyaksikan pemberian itu mencapai tujuan tertinggi.

Verse 16

य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या पठते वापि मानवः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥

Barangsiapa mendengarkan ini dengan bhakti, atau membacanya, ia terbebas dari segala dosa dan pergi menuju Viṣṇuloka.

Inside Adhyaya 103

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Within the Varāha–Pṛthivī upadeśa frame, Varāha addresses a royal patron (rājan/nṛpati) and introduces a prescriptive dāna-vidhi: how to construct and donate the śarkarā-dhenu (sugar-cow) on a ritually prepared earth-surface.

  2. Central event

    Step-by-step specification of the rite: preparing the ground with kṛṣṇājina (black antelope skin) and kuśa; establishing directional order by placing seeds in the four quarters; constructing the cow and calf in graded sizes (uttamā/madhyamā/kaniṣṭhā) with precise iconography (gold face and horns, pearl eyes) and edible/textile components for limbs, ornaments, and coverings; followed by rules for selecting a worthy recipient (pātra-parīkṣā) and rejecting the envious.

  3. Climax resolution

    The protocol culminates in the actual gifting sequence: choosing auspicious times (ayana, viṣuva, vyatīpāta, dina-kṣaya), orienting the donation correctly, reciting the appropriate mantras, and completing the act with dakṣiṇā—explicitly insisting on non-deceit in charity (vittā-śāṭhya-vivarjita) and on giving to a qualified śrotriya/virtuous householder with fires.

  4. Closing phalashruti

    A stated phala closes the manual: the donor gains puṇya, pāpa-kṣaya, and elevated post-mortem/soteriological outcomes; the reciter/hearer of the procedure likewise accrues merit (śravaṇa–kīrtana-phala).

Geographical context

Spatial/ecological markers are ritual-ecological rather than geographic: the prepared ‘earth-surface’ (mahī-pṛṣṭha), placement in the four directions (caturdiś), and materials drawn from agrarian and pastoral ecologies (seeds/bīja, sugar/śarkarā, ghee/tavanīta, sugarcane/ikṣu, kuśa grass).

Ritual instructions

  • Primary RitualŚarkarā-dhenu-dāna (donation of a ritually constructed ‘sugar-cow’ with calf)
  • BenefitPuṇya accrual and pāpa-kṣaya for the donor; prosperity and auspiciousness in this life; elevated post-mortem/soteriological outcomes; merit also for one who recites/hears the procedure with faith.

The narrative frame

  • VarāhaPṛthivī (with the instruction explicitly addressed in a royal register: rājan/nṛpati as the intended patron) · Didactic, procedural, and normative (śāstra-like dāna-vidhi with ethical injunctions)

The emotional journey

  • Dominant RasaŚānta (with a secondary dāna-śraddhā/bhakti tone)
  • Emotional ProgressionFrom orderly ritual concentration (space/time purification) → constructive care and aesthetic completion of the gift-object → ethical seriousness in selecting a worthy recipient and rejecting envy/deceit → quiet assurance through promised merit and liberation-oriented results.

Planning a pilgrimage

  • Visit FeasibilityNot tirtha-specific: the rite is portable and can be performed in a consecrated domestic/temple space under guidance of a qualified priest; feasibility depends on sourcing materials (sugar products, gold/pearls, textiles) and identifying a qualified recipient (pātra).
  • Best SeasonAyana/viṣuva periods (solstice/equinox seasons) are text-preferred; otherwise any suitable auspicious day including vyatīpāta or day’s end as per local pañcāṅga.
  • Related FestivalMakara Saṅkrānti / Uttarāyaṇa (ayana marker) and Viṣuva/Equinox observances (regional calendars); local pañcāṅga-based vyatīpāta days.

Frequently Asked Questions

The text frames charity as both procedural and ethical: the gift must be properly prepared and offered without deceit (vittā-śāṭhya-vivarjita), and it must be directed to a qualified recipient (pātra), defined as learned and disciplined (śrotriya, vedavedāṅga-vid), socially responsible (householder with fires, sagnikāya kuṭumbine), and non-malicious; envy (mātsarya) is explicitly disqualifying.

The passage specifies auspicious temporal markers: ayana (solstitial transition), viṣuva (equinox), vyatīpāta (an astronomically inauspicious/marked yoga treated as ritually significant in many dharma sources), and dina-kṣaya (the day’s end). These are presented as preferred windows for performing the donation according to one’s capacity (yathā-vibhava-śaktitaḥ).

While primarily a ritual manual, the chapter embeds an Earth-oriented material ecology: it requires a prepared ground (mahī-pṛṣṭha), uses plant-based and agrarian substances (bīja, ikṣu, guḍa), and organizes space by the four directions (caturdiś). In an environmental-ethics reading aligned with the Varāha–Pṛthivī frame, the instruction models regulated extraction and redistribution of agricultural surplus through formalized gifting, linking social welfare (supporting the poor and learned) with disciplined stewardship of terrestrial resources.

No dynastic lineages are named in the provided verses. The social categories invoked are cultural-institutional: rājan/nṛpati (royal patron), brāhmaṇa/dvija (recipient class), śrotriya (Vedic-trained specialist), and vedavedāṅga-vid (expert in Veda and auxiliaries), along with the household institution marked by maintaining ritual fires (sagnikāya kuṭumbine).

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