Varaha Purana 103.14: Adhyaya 103, Shloka 14

Ritual Procedure for the Donation of the ‘Sugar-Cow’ (Śarkarā-Dhenu)

Devanagari script

एकाहं शर्कराहारो ब्राह्मणस्त्रिदिनं वसेत् । सर्वपापहरा धेनुः सर्वकामप्रदायिनी ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 103.14

Transliteration

ekāhaṃ śarkarāhāro brāhmaṇas tridinaṃ vaset | sarvapāpaharā dhenuḥ sarvakāmapradāyinī ||

Translation

బ్రాహ్మణుడు ఒక రోజు శర్కరాహారంతో ఉండి మూడు రోజులు వ్రతాచరణలో నివసించాలి. గోవు సమస్త పాపాలను హరించి అన్ని కోరికలను ప్రసాదించేదిగా చెప్పబడింది.

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Word by Word

• eka-aham: for one day
• eka-aham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः — 'एकं अहः' (for one day); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• śarkarā-āhāraḥ: one whose food is sugar
• śarkarā-āhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarkarā (प्रातिपदिक) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव) — 'शर्करायाः आहारः/शर्कराहारः'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tri-dinam: for three days
• tri-dinam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः — 'त्रीणि दिनानि' (for three days); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• vaset: should stay/observe
• vaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — 'should dwell/observe (a regimen)'

• sarva-pāpa-harā: remover of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-harā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛ (धातु) + a (कृत्/प्रातिपदिक harā)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः — 'सर्वाणि पापानि हरति' (all-sin-removing); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (dhenu-विशेषण)

• dhenuḥ: the cow
• dhenuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarva-kāma-pradāyinī: giver of all desires
• sarva-kāma-pradāyinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + pra-dā (धातु) + yinī (कृत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; कृदन्त (णिनि/यिन्-प्रत्यय) — 'प्रदायिनी' (giver); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (dhenu-विशेषण)

Speaker

Varāha (default, not explicit in fragment)

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":"Perform a brief austerity (sugar-only for a day) and observe a three-day rite connected with cow-gift/‘dhenu’ as a sin-destroying, wish-fulfilling dāna.","karmic_consequence":"Observance is said to remove sins and grant desired aims; neglect implies loss of the stated merit (phala) and continued pāpa."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Śarkarāhāra-tridina-niyama (ancillary niyama for Dhenu-dāna)","tithi_month":"Not specified","promised_fruit":"Sarvapāpa-haraṇa and sarvakāma-prāpti through the dhenu-related observance."}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-phala (ethical ritualism)","core_concept":"Regulated restraint (niyama) and dāna function as purifiers that reorient desire (kāma) toward dharmic means.","practical_application":"Adopt a short, non-harmful dietary restraint and perform/participate in cow-related gifting with reverence rather than mere transaction."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Observance","Soteriology (stated results)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: śraddhā-bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: Domestic/ritual space (gṛhastha-yajña setting implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 103.16–17 (continuing phalaśruti); Varāha Purāṇa 104.2ff (dhenu-dāna elaborations)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual instructor describes a brief sugar-only restraint and the sanctifying, wish-fulfilling power of the cow-gift.","item_prompts":["brāhmaṇa observing niyama","small bowl of sugar (śarkarā)","cow as dāna-symbol","ritual space with kuśa and water pot"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: calm teacher-figure instructing a householder; stylized cow with auspicious markings; warm earthy palette; minimal background ritual implements.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central auspicious cow motif with gold highlights; donor and priest in profile; ornate arch; emphasis on ‘phala’ through halo-like aureoles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined linework; domestic ritual setting; brāhmaṇa with palm-leaf/gesture of instruction; subdued elegance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate courtyard scene; gentle cow; soft hills/trees as backdrop; lyrical restraint and devotion."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Didactic and auspicious","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"Medium-slow","voice_tone":"Clear, instructive, phalaśruti-emphasizing cadence"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna Phalaśruti
• Householder Ritual

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies phalaśruti-style motivation (stated results) and records ancillary observances expected around high-value gifts.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Dāna is framed as a disciplined act with associated observances and proclaimed moral/spiritual outcomes.