Varaha Purana 112.13 — Adhyaya 112, Shloka 13

Praise and Procedure of Donating the Two-Faced Kapilā Cow and the Golden Pot

Hema-kumbha

Devanagari script

कपिला या पिङ्गलाक्षी सूर्यसौख्यप्रदायिनी ॥ सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदा धेनुः कपिलानन्तरूपिणी ॥

Transliteration

kapilā yā piṅgalākṣī sūrya-saukhyapradāyinī || siddhi-buddhipradā dhenuḥ kapilānantarūpiṇī ||

Translation

പിംഗലനേത്രങ്ങളുള്ള ആ കപിലാ പശു സൂര്യസംബന്ധമായ സുഖം നൽകുന്നവളെന്ന് പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. അവൾ സിദ്ധിയും ബുദ്ധിയും ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്ന ധേനു—അനന്തരൂപിണിയായ കപിലാ.

Word by Word

• कपिला: tawny/brown (cow)
• कपिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• या: who/which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• पिङ्गलाक्षी: having tawny eyes
• पिङ्गलाक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गल-अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक; पिङ्गल + अक्षि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः ‘पिङ्गले अक्षिणी यस्याः सा’

• सूर्य: of the sun
• सूर्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपदम् (compound member)

• सौख्य: happiness/comfort
• सौख्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तत्पुरुषे मध्यपदम् (compound member)

• प्रदायिनी: bestowing sun-like happiness
• प्रदायिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√दा (धातु) + णिनि (प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कृदन्त-विशेषणम् ‘giving/bestowing’; (सूर्य-सौख्य-प्रदायिनी)

• सिद्धि: success/accomplishment
• सिद्धि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपदम् (compound member)

• बुद्धि: intelligence
• बुद्धि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपदम् (compound member)

• प्रदा: giver of success and intelligence
• प्रदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√दा (धातु) + क (प्रत्यय/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कृदन्त-विशेषणम् ‘giver’; (सिद्धि-बुद्धि-प्रदा)

• धेनुः: cow
• धेनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कपिला: tawny
• कपिला: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपदम् (compound member)

• अनन्त: endless
• अनन्त: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपदम् (compound member)

• रूपिणी: of innumerable forms (tawny)
• रूपिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘having form’; (कपिला-अनन्त-रूपिणी)

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Kapilā-dhenu is praised as a supremely meritorious gift, conferring auspicious solar well-being, siddhi, and buddhi upon the donor.","karmic_consequence":"Proper gifting of a Kapilā cow yields upliftment, clarity of intellect, and auspicious merit; neglecting such meritorious dāna forfeits these fruits."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-phala (ethics of giving)","core_concept":"Dāna of a ritually ideal object (Kapilā-dhenu) becomes a vehicle for inner refinement (buddhi) and worldly-spiritual accomplishment (siddhi).","practical_application":"When performing go-dāna, select a dhenu meeting praised lakṣaṇas and give with reverence and right intention."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Culture"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 112.14–17 (continuation on Kapilā-lakṣaṇas and acceptance rules)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as dharma-instructor extols the Kapilā cow: tawny-eyed, radiant, embodying many forms, bestowing solar happiness, siddhi and buddhi.","item_prompts":["Kapilā cow with pīṅgala (tawny) eyes","soft solar halo or Sūrya emblem behind","Varāha in teaching posture (not boar-form emphasis)","gift-giving setting with kusa grass and water-pot"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette: Varāha as divine teacher beside a luminous Kapilā cow; flat decorative background with Sūrya-disc motif; ornate jewelry, calm śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Kapilā cow with embossed gold halo; Varāha blessing gesture; rich reds/greens; gold-leaf highlights on Sūrya-disc and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate linework; Kapilā cow rendered naturalistically with warm tawny eyes; Varāha seated with palm-leaf/śāstra; subdued radiance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: pastoral setting; Kapilā cow foreground; Varāha as sage-like instructor; soft hills and a stylized sun above, gentle adbhuta tone."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"laudatory and calm","suggested_raga":"Sūryakānt (or a bright morning raga such as Bhairav)","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"clear, didactic, reverent"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna (Gift-giving)
• Sanskrit Epithets
• Vaiṣṇavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a Purāṇic valuation of specific gifts (here, the Kapilā cow) and the symbolic economy of merit (siddhi, buddhi) in Sanskrit dharma discourse.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic site is named; the imagery is symbolic and cosmological (association with the Sun).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It commends a culturally valued form of gifting (dāna) by associating it with intellectual and spiritual benefits.