Varaha Purana 55.16 — Adhyaya 55, Shloka 16
Observance of the Auspicious Dvādaśī Vow and the Sacred Account of the Kubjākāmra Tīrtha
गां युग्माभरणात् सर्वं सहिरण्यं च कारयेत् । एवं कृते तथा कृष्णशुक्लद्वादश्यमेव च ॥ ५५.१६ ॥
gāṁ yugmābharaṇāt sarvaṁ sahiraṇyaṁ ca kārayet | evaṁ kṛte tathā kṛṣṇaśukladvādaśyām eva ca || 55.16 ||
牛の施与は一対の装身具を添えて整え、さらにすべてを黄金とともに用意させるべきである。これが整ったなら、黒分（下弦）であれ白分（上弦）であれ、まさに十二日（ドヴァーダシー）に行う。
Varāha (default, instructor voice in Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"The timing on dvādaśī and the Vaiṣṇava framing can be read as devotional alignment with Kṛṣṇa/Hari, though not Mathurā-specific here."}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Perform go-dāna with paired ornaments and gold, and execute the rite specifically on dvādaśī (either kṛṣṇa- or śukla-pakṣa).","karmic_consequence":"Properly timed and properly endowed dāna yields amplified puṇya and Vaiṣṇava merit; neglect of timing/fitness diminishes the intended fruit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Dvādaśī-go-dāna–aṅga (part of the described vrata)","tithi_month":"Dvādaśī on either kṛṣṇa-pakṣa or śukla-pakṣa (month not specified in the verse).","promised_fruit":"Merit accruing from correctly performed Vaiṣṇava dāna; the text implies extraordinary, later-to-be-described results."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-yoga / dāna-dharma","core_concept":"Right action is strengthened by saṅkalpa, proper time (kāla), and fitting substance (dravya).","practical_application":"Plan charitable giving with appropriate materials and observe calendrical discipline (tithi) rather than impulsive or careless donation."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Cultural Heritage"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: śraddhā-bhakti
Type: None
Related Themes: 55.55.17-20 (continuation: earth-image dāna, feeding, mantra, and vrata-phala)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual setting where a donor prepares a cow-gift adorned with paired ornaments, with gold arranged as dakṣiṇā, while a priest marks the dvādaśī timing.","item_prompts":["cow (go)","paired ornaments (yugmābharaṇa)","gold (hiraṇya)","ritual tray","calendar/tithi marker","brāhmaṇa recipient"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: temple-courtyard dāna scene, warm earthy palette, stylized cow with ornate jewelry, priests in white, clear dvādaśī symbolism.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central cow and gold vessels with heavy gold-leaf highlights, donor in royal attire, brāhmaṇa receiving dakṣiṇā, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined linework, soft shading, detailed jewelry on the cow, calm ritual atmosphere with dvādaśī indicated by moon iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate courtyard charity scene, delicate faces, bright textiles, cow with paired ornaments, minimal but evocative moon-phase cue."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"injunctive and auspicious","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, instructional, steady"}
FAQs
It reflects a Purāṇic dāna-vidhi register: the codification of gift practices (notably cow-gifting) with specified materials (ornaments, gold) and calendrical timing (dvādaśī), illustrating how ritual economy and ethics were textualized in medieval Sanskrit traditions.
No specific geographic toponym appears in this verse; it is primarily procedural (materials and timing) rather than site-specific sacred geography.
The verse prescribes orderly preparation and proper timing for a culturally valued act of giving—framing generosity as a disciplined practice guided by material completeness and calendrical appropriateness.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in 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 audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.