Varaha Purana 102.6 — Adhyaya 102, Shloka 6

The Merit and Ritual Procedure of Donating a Jaggery Cow

Guḍadhenu

Devanagari script

उत्तमा गुडधेनुः स्यात्सदा धाराचतुष्टयम् । भागार्धेन तु तौल्येन चतुर्थांशेन वत्सकम् ॥

Transliteration

uttamā guḍadhenuḥ syāt sadā dhārācatuṣṭayam | bhāgārdhena tu taulyena caturthāṁśena vatsakam ||

Translation

‘ఉత్తమ’ గుడధేనువులో ఎల్లప్పుడూ గుడం నాలుగు ధారలుగా (నిరంతర ప్రవాహంగా) ఉండునని చెప్పబడింది. తూకం ప్రకారం ప్రధాన భాగం అర్ధభాగంతో, వత్సకం (దూడ) చతుర్థాంశంతో చేయవలెను.

Word by Word

• uttamā: excellent/best
• uttamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying guḍadhenuḥ

• guḍa-dhenuḥ: the jaggery-cow (ritual cow made of jaggery)
• guḍa-dhenuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'jaggery-cow' (guḍasya dhenuḥ)

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• dhārā-catuṣṭayam: a set of four streams (of offering)
• dhārā-catuṣṭayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhārā (प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'a set of four streams' (dhārāṇāṁ catuṣṭayam)

• bhāga-ardhena: by half a share
• bhāga-ardhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'by half a portion'

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

• taulyena: by an equal measure / by weight proportion
• taulyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; abstract noun 'equality/weight-measure' (context: proportion/measure)

• caturtha-aṁśena: by a fourth portion
• caturtha-aṁśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'by a fourth part'

• vatsakam: calf
• vatsakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Hotṛ

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Define the ‘excellent’ guḍadhenu by four continuous jaggery streams and prescribe proportional weights for the calf and main body.","karmic_consequence":"Correct metrology and defined standards prevent ritual defect (doṣa) and secure the promised merit; wrong proportions risk phala-hāni and social/ritual censure."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Measured sweetness (guḍa-dhārā) symbolizes regulated prosperity—artha flowing through dharma-channels rather than hoarded; proportion mirrors ṛta (cosmic order).","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Four streams can be read as fourfold supports (catur-varga or four directions) sustaining the rite; proportional calf/body echoes part-whole harmony in yajña construction.","vedantic_connection":"Order (niyama) in action reflects inner alignment; disciplined giving becomes a practice of harmonizing personal resources with universal order."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"niyama (regulated practice)","core_concept":"Dharma is sustained by standards—clarity in definitions and proportions prevents arbitrariness in sacred acts.","practical_application":"In religious giving and charity projects, set transparent measures and fair proportions; avoid vague or showy but ungrounded offerings."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ritual Prescriptions","Metrology (weights/portions)","Material Culture"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: vīra

Geographic Context

Type: ritual workshop / dāna venue

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 102.8 (donor gradations by capacity)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest demonstrates a guḍadhenu model with four jaggery streams flowing, while assistants weigh portions for the calf and body on a balance.","item_prompts":["four jaggery streams","weighing scale (tulā)","measured jaggery blocks","calf effigy beside larger cow","priest pointing to proportions","recording scribe"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Stylized flowing jaggery as ribbon-like streams; clear balance scale; didactic gestures; decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-leaf accents on scale and ornaments; glossy jaggery streams; central iconic cow-calf composition.","mysore_prompt":"Detailed scale mechanics; realistic jaggery texture; calm instructional tableau.","pahari_prompt":"Narrative workshop scene; simplified scale; emphasis on flowing streams and attentive assistants."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Ārabhi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"firm, counting-like clarity on numerical/proportional phrases"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna-vidhi
• Ritual Metrology
• Sanskrit Technical Vocabulary

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse preserves technical proportional language, useful for reconstructing how ritual objects were standardized and classified in Purāṇic instructional literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is mentioned.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It emphasizes precision and standardization in the act of giving, treating donation as a carefully regulated cultural practice.