Varaha Purana 102.5: Adhyaya 102, Shloka 5

The Merit and Ritual Procedure of Donating a Jaggery Cow

Guḍadhenu

Uttara Bhāga · Guḍadhenu–Māhātmya (sensory and symbolic enhancements)

Devanagari script

प्रशस्तपत्रश्रवणां नवनीतस्तनीं बुधः । फलैर्नानाविधैस्तस्या उपशोभाम्प्रकल्पयेत् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 102.5

Transliteration

praśastapatraśravaṇāṁ navanītastanīṁ budhaḥ | phalair nānāvidhais tasyā upaśobhāṁ prakalpayet ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

బుధుడు దాని చెవులను ఉత్తమమైన ఆకులవలె చేయవలెను; దాని స్తనాలను నవనీతం (తాజా వెన్న)తో నిర్మించవలెను. అనేక విధాల ఫలాలతో దానికి మరింత శోభను ఏర్పరచవలెను.

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Word by Word

• praśasta-patra-śravaṇām: having excellent leaf-like ears
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose ears (śravaṇa) are (like) excellent leaves' / 'having fine leaf-like ears'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: praśasta (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• navanīta-stanīm: having butter-like udders
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'having butter(-like) breasts/udders'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: navanīta (प्रातिपदिक) + stanin (प्रातिपदिक)

• budhaḥ: a wise person
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)

• phalaiḥ: with fruits
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)

• nānā-vidhaiḥ: of various kinds
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; adjective agreeing with phalaiḥ; compound sense: 'of various kinds'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)

• upa-śobhām: additional beauty/ornamentation
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: upaśobhā (प्रातिपदिक)

• prakalpayet: should arrange/prepare
• Type: Verb
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: pra-√kḷp (कॢप् धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• phalair = phalaiḥ (visarga→r before vowel/consonant cluster)
• tasyā upaśobhām = tasyāḥ + upaśobhām (visarga loss before vowel)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasaSetting: Ritual-space / household dāna setting

Speaker

Hotṛ

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Dāna as cultivation of sattva

Subjects

Ritual PrescriptionsMaterial CultureEthics (gift aesthetics)

Core idea

Offerings should be sāttvika—fresh, wholesome, and life-supporting—reflecting inner clarity.

In practice

Prefer fresh, pure foods and thoughtfully prepared gifts; give in a way that genuinely nourishes recipients.

Symbolism of the boar

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna-vidhi
• Ritual Aesthetics
• Food Symbolism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It highlights sensory symbolism (butter, fruits) in ritual gifting, relevant to studies of food, economy, and aesthetic values in Sanskrit traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

None is specified.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To prepare offerings thoughtfully and skillfully, suggesting that ethical giving includes care for form, symbolism, and completeness.