Varaha Purana 101.9 — Adhyaya 101, Shloka 9

The Eulogy and Procedure of the ‘Rasadhenu’ (Sugarcane-Juice Cow) Donation

Devanagari script

रसधेनुः प्रदातव्या स्वर्गकामेन नित्यदा ॥ दाता स्वर्गमवाप्नोति सर्वपापविवर्जितः ॥

Transliteration

rasadhenuḥ pradātavyā svargakāmena nityadā || dātā svargam avāpnoti sarvapāpavivarjitaḥ ||

Translation

स्वर्गाची इच्छा असणाऱ्याने नित्य रसधेनूचे दान करावे; दाता सर्व पापांपासून मुक्त होऊन स्वर्ग प्राप्त करतो।

Word by Word

• रस-धेनुः: the ‘rasa-cow’ (a cow of juices/essences; ritual gift)
• रस-धेनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रदातव्या: should be given
• प्रदातव्या: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive/future passive participle) ‘to be given’

• स्वर्ग-कामेन: by one desiring heaven
• स्वर्ग-कामेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• नित्यदा: always
• नित्यदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य + दा (अव्यय-निर्माण)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दाता: the giver
• दाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्व-पाप-विवर्जितः: free from all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विवर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + वि-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज् धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण, भूतकर्मणि-क्त (वर्जित = devoid of) with उपसर्ग वि-

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"One who desires heaven should regularly give the rasadhenu; the donor attains heaven and becomes free from sins.","karmic_consequence":"Observance yields svarga and pāpa-kṣaya; neglect forfeits the stated heavenly fruit and leaves sins unattenuated."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethical soteriology","core_concept":"Intent (svargakāmatā) combined with prescribed generosity becomes a purifier that transforms karmic destiny.","practical_application":"Institutionalize giving (nityadāna); treat charity as a disciplined practice rather than an occasional impulse."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: āśā (hopeful)

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/charitable setting

Cross References

Related Themes: 101.11.0–101.13.0 (ritual handling and expanded fruits of the same dāna)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A donor offers a richly adorned 'rasadhenu' (cow-gift or symbolic cow-donation) with attendants, emphasizing the promise of heaven and sinlessness.","item_prompts":["cow or cow-representation (rasadhenu)","donor with offering cloth","recipient Brahmin with accepting gesture","ritual vessels and flowers","heavenly motif in background (subtle light/sky)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Stylized cow with ornamentation; donor and recipient in profile; luminous background suggesting svarga; restrained, devotional tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-leaf haloed cow and recipient; ornate jewelry; inscription-like clarity; emphasis on auspicious prosperity.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic cow form; delicate shading; calm exchange; focus on purity and dignity of dāna.","pahari_prompt":"Narrative miniature with cow at center; soft hills/sky; symbolic celestial glow above donor."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"assuring, merit-proclaiming","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, declarative"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Dharmaśāstra
• Karma Theory
• Purāṇic Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It expresses the standard Purāṇic linkage between dāna and post-mortem merit, a key theme for historians of Indic ethical and ritual systems.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse presents charitable giving as a disciplined ethical practice associated with merit (puṇya) and moral purification.