Varaha Purana 112.31 — Adhyaya 112, Shloka 31
Praise and Procedure of Donating the Two-Faced Kapilā Cow and the Golden Pot
Hema-kumbha
ब्राह्मणस्य करे दत्त्वा सुवर्णं रौप्यमेव च ॥ कपिलायास्तदा पुच्छं ब्राह्मणस्य करे न्यसेत् ॥
brāhmaṇasya kare dattvā suvarṇaṃ raupyam eva ca || kapilāyās tadā pucchaṃ brāhmaṇasya kare nyaset ||
ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ കൈയിൽ സ്വർണ്ണവും വെള്ളിയും നൽകി, തുടർന്ന് കപിലാ ഗാവിന്റെ വാൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ കൈയിൽ വെക്കണം—ഇതാണ് ദാനഹസ്താന്തരണവിധി.
Varāha (default speaker within Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"earth_interaction":"None (procedural instruction within dialogue frame)"}
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":"In kapilā-go-dāna, place gold and silver into the brāhmaṇa’s hand, then place the cow’s tail into his hand to complete the formal act of donation (saṅkalpa/saṃpradāna).","karmic_consequence":"Correct ritual transfer ensures the dāna is ‘valid’ and fruit-bearing; improper procedure risks ‘aphala’ (loss of fruit) and ritual fault (doṣa)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ritual intentionality","core_concept":"Dāna becomes spiritually operative when intention is sealed by correct symbolic actions (gold/silver as dakṣiṇā; tail-hand as transfer token).","practical_application":"Perform go-dāna with proper saṅkalpa and prescribed gestures; treat the recipient with honor and avoid casual or ambiguous transfer."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual practice","Ethics","Material culture"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Type: gṛhya dāna-vedī setting
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 112.34 (udaka and śuddha-girā recitation)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close ritual moment: a brāhmaṇa extends his right palm; donor places gold and silver; then the kapilā cow’s tail is gently placed into the brāhmaṇa’s hand as the sign of transfer.","item_prompts":["open palm receiving coins","gold and silver pieces","kapilā cow tail","donor’s respectful posture","ritual mat/kuśa"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: tight composition on hands and tail; stylized jewelry/coins; calm faces; minimal background to emphasize rite.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf coins and ornaments; richly decorated hands; cow tail rendered with texture; ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: naturalistic hands, soft highlights on metals; gentle movement of tail; dignified ritual mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: fine-line depiction of hands and tail; bright but restrained palette; narrative clarity with minimal props."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"precise, ritualistic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, crisp articulation of action verbs"}
FAQs
It preserves a concrete ritual gesture of transfer (hand-to-hand), valuable for reconstructing historical practices of dāna and ceremonial legality.
No geographic location is identified.
Charity is framed as a formal, accountable act: the transfer is ritually enacted through specific objects and gestures.
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