Varaha Purana 106.4: Adhyaya 106, Shloka 4

The Significance and Rite of Donating the ‘Curd-Cow’

Dadhidhenudāna

Devanagari script

आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन पुष्पगन्धैस्तु पूजिताम् ॥ ब्राह्मणाय कुलीनाय साधुवृत्ताय धीमते

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 106.4

Transliteration

ācchādya vastrayugmena puṣpagandhaistu pūjitām || brāhmaṇāya kulīnāya sādhuvṛttāya dhīmate

Translation

രണ്ട് വസ്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ മൂടി, പുഷ്പഗന്ധങ്ങളാൽ പൂജിച്ച്, കുലീനനും സദ്വൃത്തനും ധീമാനുമായ ബ്രാഹ്മണനു (ഈ ദാനം) അർപ്പിക്കണം।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• आच्छाद्य: having covered
• आच्छाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• वस्त्र-युग्मेन: with a pair of cloths
• वस्त्र-युग्मेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्राणां युग्मम्)

• पुष्प-गन्धैः: with flower-fragrances
• पुष्प-गन्धैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पाणां गन्धाः)

• तु: indeed / and
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• पूजिताम्: honoured / worshipped
• पूजिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Karma/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• कुलीनाय: to a noble-born one
• कुलीनाय: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणाय)

• साधु-वृत्ताय: to one of good conduct
• साधु-वृत्ताय: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (साधु एव वृत्तम् यस्य/साधुवृत्तः)

• धीमते: to the intelligent one
• धीमते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

Speaker

Varāha (default, not explicitly marked in this fragment)

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dharmaśāstra Interface
• Ritual Economy

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects Purāṇic-era norms for ritual gifting, emphasizing both the material preparation of the gift and the ethical qualifications of the recipient.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic site is named in this verse; the focus is on ritual protocol and recipient qualifications.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Gifts should be offered respectfully and directed toward recipients characterized by learning, integrity, and disciplined conduct.