Shloka 62

Viśokā Dvādaśī Vow, Guḍa-Dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift, and Śaila-Dāna (Mountain-Charity) Rites

Devanagari script

धेनुरूपेण सा देवी मम पापं व्यपोहतु । विष्णोर्वक्षसि या लक्ष्मीः स्वाहा या च विभावसौ

Transliteration

dhenurūpeṇa sā devī mama pāpaṃ vyapohatu | viṣṇorvakṣasi yā lakṣmīḥ svāhā yā ca vibhāvasau

Translation

ଧେନୁରୂପିଣୀ ସେଇ ଦେବୀ ମୋ ପାପ ନାଶ କରୁନ୍ତୁ—ଯିଏ ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କ ବକ୍ଷସ୍ଥଳରେ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ, ଏବଂ ବିଭାବସୁ ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ‘ସ୍ୱାହା’ ରୂପେ ବିରାଜିତ।

Word by Word

• dhenu-rūpeṇa: in the form of a cow
• dhenu-rūpeṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (धेनु प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (रूप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘in the form of a cow’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• devī: the goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to sā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (देवी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (पाप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vyapohatu: may she remove
• vyapohatu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-apa-√uh (व्यपो/अपोहन; ऊह् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/imperative), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (वक्षस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (लक्ष्मी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svāhā: svāhā (offering-call)
• svāhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/ritual utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svāhā (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: Avyaya; mantra-exclamation used in offerings (स्वाहा-शब्द)

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• vibhāvasau: in Agni (the fire)
• vibhāvasau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhāvasu (विभावसु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; name of Agni

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (a devotee/reciter offering a prayer to the Goddess).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇorvakṣasi = viṣṇoḥ + vakṣasi.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Goddess)
• Dhenu (Cow-form)
• Viṣṇu
• Lakṣmī
• Svāhā
• Vibhāvasu (Agni)

FAQs

Why is the Goddess invoked as both Lakṣmī and Svāhā in this verse?

The verse identifies a single divine feminine principle manifesting in different sacred contexts: as Lakṣmī with Viṣṇu (prosperity, auspiciousness) and as Svāhā within Agni (the power that carries offerings in Vedic ritual).

What does the “cow-form” (dhenu-rūpa) symbolize here?

The cow-form symbolizes nurturing abundance and sanctity; invoking the Goddess as dhenu-rūpa frames her as a purifier and benefactor who can “drive away” (vyapohatu) sin.

What ethical or devotional teaching is emphasized by this shloka?

It emphasizes repentance and seeking purification through reverent remembrance of the Divine, recognizing the Goddess’s presence across devotional (Viṣṇu-Lakṣmī) and ritual (Agni-Svāhā) spheres.