Varaha Purana 104.2: Adhyaya 104, Shloka 2

The Eulogy and Procedure of the ‘Honey-Cow’ Gift

Madhudhenudāna

Devanagari script

सौवर्णं तु मुखं कृत्वा शृङ्गाण्यगुरुचन्दनैः॥ पृष्ठं ताम्रमयं कृत्वा सास्रां पटमयीं तथा॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 104.2

Transliteration

sauvarṇaṃ tu mukhaṃ kṛtvā śṛṅgāṇy aguru-candanaiḥ || pṛṣṭhaṃ tāmra-mayaṃ kṛtvā sāsrāṃ paṭa-mayīṃ tathā ||

Translation

Tendo moldado o rosto em ouro e os chifres em madeira de agaru e sândalo, deve-se formar o dorso em cobre e, do mesmo modo, fazer a cobertura de tecido segundo a forma prescrita chamada ‘sāsrā’.

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Word by Word

• sauvarṇam: golden
• sauvarṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sauvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण (qualifier)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• mukham: face/mouth
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having made/done’

• śṛṅgāṇi: horns
• śṛṅgāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• aguru-candanaiḥ: with aloe-wood and sandalwood
• aguru-candanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aguru (प्रातिपदिक) + candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative)

• pṛṣṭham: back
• pṛṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāmra-mayam: made of copper
• tāmra-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तद्धितार्थ/मयट्-प्रत्ययार्थ ‘made of’; तत्पुरुष (material relation)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable

• sa-asrām: blood-stained/with blood
• sa-asrām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्गवत्) + asra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with blood’ (सह-सम्बन्ध)

• paṭa-mayīm: made of cloth
• paṭa-mayīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘made of cloth’

• tathā: thus/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Varāha (default, instructional voice)

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dāna (Gift-ritual)
• Indic Material Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a prescriptive template for high-status ritual gifting (dāna), reflecting artisanal materials and symbolic valuation in Purāṇic-era religious economy.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic toponym appears in this verse; it is procedural rather than place-centered.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To offer gifts with careful preparation and appropriate materials, emphasizing conscientious generosity rather than mere display.