Varaha Purana 105.4 — Adhyaya 105, Shloka 4

Ritual Procedure for the Gift of the Milk-Cow

Kṣīradhenu

Devanagari script

इक्षुपादां दर्भरोमां सितकम्बलसंवृताम् ॥ ताम्रपृष्ठां कांस्यदोहां पट्टसूत्रमयीं शुभाम्

Transliteration

ikṣupādāṃ darbharomāṃ sitakambalasaṃvṛtām || tāmrapṛṣṭhāṃ kāṃsyadohāṃ paṭṭasūtramayīṃ śubhām

Translation

(ចូរបង្កើតគោ) ឲ្យមានជើងធ្វើពីអំពៅ រោមធ្វើពីស្មៅដರ್ಭៈ គ្របដោយកម្រាលពណ៌ស; មានខ្នងធ្វើពីទង់ដែង មានភាជន៍ដោះទឹកដោះធ្វើពីសំរិទ្ធ និងធ្វើឡើងដោយខ្សែសូត្រយ៉ាងមង្គល។

Word by Word

• इक्षुपादाम्: having sugarcane-like legs
• इक्षुपादाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्षु + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied ‘धेनुम्/गाम्’); समासार्थः ‘इक्षुवत् पादाः यस्याः’ (बहुव्रीह्यर्थ-प्रयोगः)

• दर्भरोमाम्: having darbha-grass-like hair
• दर्भरोमाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्भ + रोमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासार्थः ‘दर्भवत् रोमाणि यस्याः’ (बहुव्रीह्यर्थ-प्रयोगः)

• सितकम्बलसंवृताम्: covered with a white blanket
• सितकम्बलसंवृताम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित + कम्बल + सं-वृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘सितकम्बलेन संवृता’ (instrumental tatpurusha)

• ताम्रपृष्ठाम्: copper-backed
• ताम्रपृष्ठाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारय ‘ताम्रं पृष्ठं यस्याः’

• कांस्यदोहाम्: (to be) milked into a bronze vessel / having bronze milking
• कांस्यदोहाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कांस्य + दोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासार्थः ‘कांस्येन दोहः/दोहना यस्याः’ (instrumental tatpurusha; sense: milked into bronze vessel)

• पट्टसूत्रमयीम्: made of silk threads
• पट्टसूत्रमयीम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पट्ट + सूत्र + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘पट्टसूत्रैः मयी’ (made of silk-threads)

• शुभाम्: auspicious, beautiful
• शुभाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"What specific materials should constitute each limb and accessory of the ritual cow in the dāna-craft?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Construct the dāna-cow with sugarcane legs, darbha-grass hair, a white blanket covering, copper back, bronze milking-vessel, and auspicious silk-thread binding.","karmic_consequence":"Following the prescribed correspondences perfects the gift and increases puṇya; improper substitution or omission reduces ritual efficacy."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The cow-as-offering is built from agrarian and ritual staples, turning everyday sustenance (sugarcane, grains, ghee implied) and sacred grass (darbha) into a cosmically ‘fit’ body for merit-transfer.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Darbha hair evokes yajña-pavitra and altar sanctity; copper/bronze implements echo ritual metallurgy; white covering signals śuddhi/sattva; sugarcane legs suggest sweetness/abundance supporting dharma.","vedantic_connection":"Material abundance is subordinated to dharma: wealth (artha) is transmuted into merit through right use; the ‘constructed body’ symbolizes disciplined transformation of prakṛti into offering."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma-practice","core_concept":"Right giving integrates purity (darbha/white cloth), sustenance-symbols (sugarcane), and disciplined craftsmanship.","practical_application":"Let charitable acts be carefully prepared, clean, and complete—honoring both recipient and rite."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ritual Procedure","Material Culture","Symbolic Craft"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 105.4, 105.7-105.9 (same dāna-cow construction sequence)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritually fashioned cow/icon assembled from symbolic materials: sugarcane legs, darbha-grass hair, white blanket, copper backplate, bronze milking pot, silk-thread bindings—shown as a sacred craft object.","item_prompts":["sugarcane stalk legs","darbha-grass mane/hair","white blanket drape","copper back panel sheen","bronze milking vessel (kāṃsya-dohā)","silk threads wrapping/tying","Varāha instructing nearby"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: emphasize textures—darbha strands, sugarcane nodes, metallic copper/bronze; Varāha as calm guru; white cloth luminous against earthy background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf accents on copper/bronze surfaces; ornate silk-thread patterns; the cow/icon centered like a consecrated object with halo-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: fine detailing of silk threads and blanket folds; subtle metallic gradients; quiet devotional workshop ambience.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: simplified pastoral-symbolic cow/icon with clear sugarcane and darbha cues; intimate court-priest setting with Varāha teaching."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic and steady","suggested_raga":"Dhanyāsi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"didactic, precise"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna (Gifting)
• Metallurgy in Texts
• Ritual Craftsmanship

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse provides evidence for a composite ritual object built from plant materials, textiles, and metals—useful for reconstructing premodern South Asian ceremonial craftsmanship.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified; the verse is a technical description of the gift-object.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It encourages intentional generosity by specifying quality and completeness in preparing a donation.