Varaha Purana 111.12 — Adhyaya 111, Shloka 12

The Eulogy of Donating a Tawny (Kapilā) Cow

Devanagari script

तृणादिकानि यो दद्यात्क्षुधितेन गवाऽह्निकम् ॥ गोमेधस्य फलं दिव्यं लभते मानवोत्तमः ॥

Transliteration

tṛṇādikāni yo dadyāt kṣudhitenā gavā'hnikam || gomedhasya phalaṃ divyaṃ labhate mānavottamaḥ ||

Translation

हे नरश्रेष्ठ! जो भुकेल्या गायीला दररोज तृण इत्यादी आहार देतो, तो गोमेध यज्ञाचे दिव्य फळ प्राप्त करतो।

Word by Word

• tṛṇa-ādikāni: grass etc. (fodder and the like)
• tṛṇa-ādikāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'grass and such (things)'

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा॒ धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣudhitenā: by/for a hungry (one)
• kṣudhitenā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudhita (कृदन्त; √kṣudh)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); masculine/neuter form used with gavā; past participle meaning 'hungry'

• gavā: by a cow / to a cow (instrumental sense)
• gavā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ahnikam: daily portion/meal (daily requirement)
• ahnikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahnika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gomedhasya: of the gomedha (cow-sacrifice)
• gomedhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go-medha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'cow-sacrifice'

• phalam: fruit, result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with phalam

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānava-uttamaḥ: the best of men
• mānava-uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'best (uttama) among men (mānava)'

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":true,"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":"Feed a hungry cow daily even with simple fodder like grass; such go-sevā yields merit equal to the gomedha-sacrifice.","karmic_consequence":"The giver attains the divine fruit (puṇya/phala) of gomedha and elevated post-mortem welfare."}

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":"dharma-ethics (ahiṃsā/dayā)","core_concept":"Small, consistent compassion toward living beings (especially the cow) can equal grand Vedic ritual merit.","practical_application":"Maintain a daily practice of feeding/serving cattle; treat ecological care and animal welfare as yajña-like duty."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 111.14–17 (continuation: fruits and cow-classifications)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder offers handfuls of fresh grass and fodder to a visibly hungry cow at day’s end; the act is framed as equivalent to a great sacrifice.","item_prompts":["hungry cow","bundle of grass/fodder","donor with water-pot","simple cowshed","soft halo of merit (puṇya)","subtle yajña motif (smoke/altar silhouette in background)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: warm earthy palette; serene donor feeding a cow; stylized foliage; gentle divine aura suggesting gomedha-phala.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central cow and donor with gold-leaf halo; ornamental borders; symbolic miniature yajña-altar motif behind.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework; calm domestic cowshed; luminous but restrained aura around the act of feeding.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: pastoral hillside cowshed; tender interaction; soft gradients; emphasis on compassion and simplicity."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic and compassionate","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, instructive, gently emphatic"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Dāna-śāstra
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Food Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows a Purāṇic tendency to valorize non-violent, everyday welfare acts (feeding) by equating them with the prestige of older ritual categories.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified; the verse concerns daily ethical conduct.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Providing regular nourishment to vulnerable animals is framed as a highly meritorious act.