Varaha Purana 103.4: Adhyaya 103, Shloka 4
Ritual Procedure for the Donation of the ‘Sugar-Cow’ (Śarkarā-Dhenu)
सर्वबीजानि संस्थाप्य चतुर्दिक्षु समन्ततः । सुवर्णस्य मुखं शृङ्गे मौक्तिकैर्नयने तथा ॥
sarva-bījāni saṃsthāpya caturdikṣu samantataḥ | suvarṇasya mukhaṃ śṛṅge mauktikair nayane tathā ||
నాలుగు దిక్కులలో చుట్టూరా అన్ని రకాల విత్తనాలను స్థాపించి, (ప్రతిమకు) ముఖాన్ని స్వర్ణంతో చేయాలి; అలాగే శృంగాలు మరియు నేత్రాలను ముత్యాలతో అలంకరించాలి।
Hotṛ (inferred)
Ritual construction of a boar/cow-like dāna-object: place seeds in the four directions and fashion mouth in gold, horns/eyes with pearls as prescribed materials.
Properly executed dāna with correct materials and directions is treated as meritorious (puṇya) and prosperity-yielding; defective construction is implied to diminish fruit.
The ritual animal-form (often read as varāha/earth-sustaining emblem in Vaiṣṇava purāṇic dāna) becomes a microcosm: seeds signify generative prakṛti and the four quarters; gold/pearls mark sattvic radiance and purity, aligning material offering with cosmic order (ṛta).
Four directions encircled by seeds = varāha stabilizing the quarters; golden mouth = sacred speech/āhuti-receiver; pearl eyes = luminous awareness overseeing the worlds; horns = ritual power/authority (yajña-śakti).
Offering a constructed ‘cosmic body’ externalizes the idea that the Lord/ṛta pervades matter; dāna becomes karma-yoga—purifying possessiveness and aligning the giver with dharma sustaining the world.
Matter can be ethically transmuted into merit when shaped by śāstra, intention, and offering.
When giving, follow prescribed purity, directional order, and high-quality materials; treat the gift as a sacred embodiment, not mere property.
Varāha Purāṇa 103.6-103.9 (continued construction and gifting rules)
FAQs
It links ritual gifting to agrarian symbolism (seeds in all directions) and luxury materials, illuminating how prosperity and fertility motifs are embedded in donation rites.
No specific location; the ‘four directions’ is a ritual-cosmological framing.
The verse implies conscientious preparation and completeness in offering, aligning ritual generosity with careful craftsmanship.
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