Varaha Purana 111.17: Adhyaya 111, Shloka 17
The Eulogy of Donating a Tawny (Kapilā) Cow
सर्वलक्षणसंयुक्ता सर्वालङ्कृतसुन्दरी ॥ ब्राह्मणाय प्रदातव्या भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी ॥
sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyuktā sarvālaṅkṛtasundarī || brāhmaṇāya pradātavyā bhuktimuktipradāyinī ||
സകല ലക്ഷണങ്ങളാലും സമ്പന്നയും എല്ലാ അലങ്കാരങ്ങളാലും സുന്ദരിയായി അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുമായ ആ (പശു) ബ്രാഹ്മണനു ദാനമായി നൽകേണ്ടതാണ്; അത് ഭോഗവും മോക്ഷവും ഇരണ്ടും പ്രദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു.
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"A fully qualified, well-adorned gift (implied: Kapilā-cow/Go-dāna) should be given to a worthy brāhmaṇa, yielding both bhukti and mukti.","karmic_consequence":"Properly performed dāna to a qualified brāhmaṇa leads to prosperity and ultimately liberation; neglecting qualification/fitness diminishes or nullifies the fruit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-yoga / dāna as sādhanā","core_concept":"Rightly directed generosity becomes both worldly welfare (bhukti) and a means toward release (mukti).","practical_application":"Select a worthy recipient (brāhmaṇa), ensure the gift is ‘sarva-lakṣaṇa’ (fit/complete), and give with reverence and purity of intent."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Social History"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: śṛṅgāra
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa dāna-prakaraṇa context (Kapilā-go-dāna and its fruits)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha (as divine instructor) describes the ideal, auspiciously marked and adorned Kapilā-cow (or exemplary gift) being respectfully offered to a seated brāhmaṇa, with ritual vessels nearby.","item_prompts":["adorned tawny cow with auspicious marks","brāhmaṇa seated on kuśa mat","water-pot (kalaśa) and darbha grass","garlands, cloth, ornaments on the gift","gesture of donation (dāna-mudrā)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: warm earth tones; Varāha as dignified teacher at left, brāhmaṇa at right; richly patterned ornaments on the cow; flat decorative foliage background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central adorned Kapilā-cow with gold-leaf ornaments; Varāha and brāhmaṇa flanking; embossed jewelry and halo details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework; soft shading on the cow’s tawny coat; calm instructional posture of Varāha; minimal but elegant ritual props.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: pastoral setting; gentle hills; intimate dāna moment with bright textiles; expressive faces showing reverence and serenity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, auspicious","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, instructive, benedictory"}
FAQs
It illustrates the institutional social setting of dāna where specific recipient categories are foregrounded, reflecting historical norms of patronage and ritual economy.
No geographic location appears here.
Charity is framed as intentional giving to recognized recipients, with an emphasis on careful preparation and presentation.
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