Varaha Purana 112.47: Adhyaya 112, Shloka 47

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

Hema-kumbha

Devanagari script

होतोवाच ॥ इदं रहस्यं राजेन्द्र वराहेण पुरातनम् ॥ धरण्यै कथितं राजन् धेनुमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 112.47

Transliteration

hotovāca | idaṃ rahasyaṃ rājendra varāheṇa purātanam | dharaṇyai kathitaṃ rājan dhenumāhātmyam uttamam ||

Translation

ഹോതൃ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ രാജേന്ദ്രാ! ഈ പുരാതന രഹസ്യം, ധേനുമാഹാത്മ്യത്തിന്റെ ഈ ഉത്തമ വിവരണം, വരാഹൻ ധരണിയോട് (ഭൂമിയോട്) ഉപദേശിച്ചതാണ്, ഹേ രാജാ.

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Word by Word

• होता: the Hotṛ (priest)
• होता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; agent-noun (होतृ = Hotṛ priest)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• रहस्यम्: secret, mystery
• रहस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः)

• वराहेण: by Varāha
• वराहेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; agrees with रहस्यम्

• धरण्यै: to the Earth (goddess)
• धरण्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• कथितम्: told, narrated
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with रहस्यम्

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• धेनु-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness/glory of the cow
• धेनु-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धेनोः माहात्म्यम्)

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with माहात्म्यम्

Speaker

Hotṛ (explicit)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Frame Narrative
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Specialists

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It marks a transmission chain (speaker attribution and origin story), important for understanding how Purāṇic teachings are framed as inherited discourse.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific site; 'Dharaṇī' functions as a personified Earth rather than a place-name.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse legitimizes the teaching by situating it within an authoritative dialogue, reinforcing the cultural value placed on the subject (dhenumāhātmya).