Shloka 3

Procedure for the Guḍa-dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift; Ten Dhenu-dānas; Yearlong Gaṅgā Worship and Darśana

Devanagari script

गुडधेन्वादिधेनूनां विधानं च यथाक्रमम् । तथा कथय विप्रेन्द्र भक्ताहं तव सर्वदा ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

guḍadhenvādidhenūnāṃ vidhānaṃ ca yathākramam | tathā kathaya viprendra bhaktāhaṃ tava sarvadā || 3 ||

Translation

グダ・デーヌー（guḍa-dhenū）をはじめとする、かの象徴的な「牛の施し」の作法を、順序立てて説いてください。おお、婆羅門の中の最勝者よ、正しく語ってください。わたしは常にあなたに帰依し、バクティを捧げています。

Word by Word

• guḍa-dhenu-ādi-dhenūnām: of the ‘jaggery-cow’ and other (gift-)cows
• guḍa-dhenu-ādi-dhenūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (गुडधेन्वादयः धेनवः)

• vidhānam: procedure, rule
• vidhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of kathaya

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yathā-kramam: in proper sequence
• yathā-kramam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva, adverbial; indeclinable meaning ‘in due order’

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (तथा)

• kathaya: tell, explain
• kathaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• vipra-indra: O best of brahmins
• vipra-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन-तत्पुरुष ‘chief among brahmins’

• bhaktā: a devotee
• bhaktā: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक; भज्-धातोः क्त, कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative, Singular

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th), Singular

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla (काल/temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक)

Speaker

Narada (as the inquirer addressing a senior Brahmin sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

The verse frames dāna (sacred giving) as a disciplined dharmic act that must be performed according to vidhi (proper procedure) and approached with humility and devotion toward the teacher.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti appears as the disciple’s attitude—constant devotion and reverence to the guru—through which ritual knowledge is received and correctly applied, turning external charity into an inwardly sanctified act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual order (yathākramam) and procedural correctness (vidhāna), aligning with Kalpa-style discipline (rules for rites and donations) even though a specific Vedāṅga is not named in the verse.