Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

प्रथमा गुडधेनुः स्याद् घृतधेनुरथापरा । तिलधेनुस्तृतीया च चतुर्थी जलसंज्ञिता ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

prathamā guḍadhenuḥ syād ghṛtadhenurathāparā | tiladhenustṛtīyā ca caturthī jalasaṃjñitā || 22 ||

Translation

ಮೊದಲನೆಯದು ಗುಡಧೇನು; ಮುಂದಿನದು ಘೃತಧೇನು. ಮೂರನೆಯದು ತಿಲಧೇನು; ನಾಲ್ಕನೆಯದು ‘ಜಲಧೇನು’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• प्रथमा: the first
• प्रथमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (क्रमवाचक)

• गुड-धेनुः: jaggery-cow (cow made of jaggery)
• गुड-धेनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुडस्य धेनुः)

• स्यात्: should be/is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• घृत-धेनुः: ghee-cow
• घृत-धेनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (घृतस्य धेनुः)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/next)

• अपरा: the other/next
• अपरा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (referring to the next one)

• तिल-धेनुः: sesame-cow
• तिल-धेनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तिलस्य धेनुः)

• तृतीया: the third
• तृतीया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• चतुर्थी: the fourth
• चतुर्थी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (ordinal)

• जल-संज्ञिता: named ‘water’
• जल-संज्ञिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (√ज्ञा क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of चतुर्थी); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जल-संज्ञा यस्याः/जलसंज्ञिता)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Narada Purana tradition; teaching on dāna within a tīrtha/mahātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It classifies four dhenu-dāna forms—symbolic ‘cow-gifts’ made of sacred, life-sustaining substances—showing how specific materials (jaggery, ghee, sesame, water) are ritualized as dharmic donations that generate puṇya.

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

While primarily a dāna-vidhi verse, it supports bhakti indirectly: offering pure substances in a prescribed, reverential form trains the donor in surrender, gratitude, and service—core dispositions that nourish Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—categorizing donations by name and substance so the act can be performed with correct saṃjñā (technical designation) and sequence.