Varaha Purana 102.4: Adhyaya 102, Shloka 4

The Merit and Ritual Procedure of Donating a Jaggery Cow

Guḍadhenu

Uttara Bhāga · Guḍadhenu–Māhātmya (iconographic detailing of the gift)

Devanagari script

इक्षुपादां रौप्यखुरां कम्बलं पट्टसूत्रकम् । आच्छाद्य पट्टवस्त्रेण घण्टाचामरभूषिताम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 102.4

Transliteration

ikṣupādāṁ raupyakhurāṁ kambalaṁ paṭṭasūtrakam | ācchādya paṭṭavastreṇa ghaṇṭācāmarabhūṣitām ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Dengan kaki daripada tebu dan kuku daripada perak, serta selimut dan kelengkapan daripada benang sutera; setelah menutupinya dengan kain sutera, hendaklah dihias dengan loceng dan cāmara (kipas ekor yak).

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Word by Word

• ikṣu-pādām: having sugarcane(-like) feet
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'having sugarcane-like feet' / 'whose feet are (like) sugarcane'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: ikṣu (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)

• raupya-khurām: having silver hooves
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'having silver hooves'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: raupya (प्रातिपदिक) + khura (प्रातिपदिक)

• kambalam: blanket
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: kambala (प्रातिपदिक)

• paṭṭa-sūtrakam: silken cord/thread
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'silken thread/cord' (paṭṭasya sūtrakam)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtraka (प्रातिपदिक)

• ācchādya: having covered
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having covered'
• Role: Kriyā (पूर्वकर्म/absolutive)
• Root: ā-√chad (छद् धातु)

• paṭṭa-vastreṇa: with silk cloth
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'silk cloth'
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)

• ghaṇṭā-cāmara-bhūṣitām: adorned with bells and chowries
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'adorned with bell(s) and yak-tail fan(s)' (ghaṇṭābhiḥ cāmaraiś ca bhūṣitā)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + cāmara (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त, भूष् धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• ācchādya is gerund from ā+छद्

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Shringara rasa

Speaker

Hotṛ

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethics of wealth

Subjects

Ritual PrescriptionsMaterial CultureAesthetics

Core idea

Wealth is purified when transformed into service-like giving (sevā-rūpa dāna) rather than display for ego.

In practice

Use valuable items (silver, silk) to honor dharma/guests/priests, while maintaining purity and appropriateness.

Symbolism of the boar

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna-vidhi
• Ritual Objects
• South Asian Material Symbolism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse is a compact catalogue of prestige materials and accessories, illustrating how Purāṇic texts encode ideals of value, craftsmanship, and ritual display.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic identification is provided.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Generosity is expressed through an offering prepared with completeness and dignity, emphasizing thoroughness in charitable/ritual acts.