Varaha Purana 111.12: Adhyaya 111, Shloka 12
The Eulogy of Donating a Tawny (Kapilā) Cow
तृणादिकानि यो दद्यात्क्षुधितेन गवाऽह्निकम् ॥ गोमेधस्य फलं दिव्यं लभते मानवोत्तमः ॥
tṛṇādikāni yo dadyāt kṣudhitenā gavā'hnikam || gomedhasya phalaṃ divyaṃ labhate mānavottamaḥ ||
హే నరశ్రేష్ఠా! ఆకలిగొన్న ఆవుకు ప్రతిదినం తృణములు మొదలైన ఆహారాన్ని దానం చేసేవాడు గోమేధ యజ్ఞానికి సమానమైన దివ్య ఫలాన్ని పొందుతాడు।
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Feed a hungry cow daily even with simple fodder like grass; such go-sevā yields merit equal to the gomedha-sacrifice.","karmic_consequence":"The giver attains the divine fruit (puṇya/phala) of gomedha and elevated post-mortem welfare."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma-ethics (ahiṃsā/dayā)","core_concept":"Small, consistent compassion toward living beings (especially the cow) can equal grand Vedic ritual merit.","practical_application":"Maintain a daily practice of feeding/serving cattle; treat ecological care and animal welfare as yajña-like duty."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Culture","Ecological Stewardship"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: karuṇa
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 111.14–17 (continuation: fruits and cow-classifications)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder offers handfuls of fresh grass and fodder to a visibly hungry cow at day’s end; the act is framed as equivalent to a great sacrifice.","item_prompts":["hungry cow","bundle of grass/fodder","donor with water-pot","simple cowshed","soft halo of merit (puṇya)","subtle yajña motif (smoke/altar silhouette in background)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: warm earthy palette; serene donor feeding a cow; stylized foliage; gentle divine aura suggesting gomedha-phala.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central cow and donor with gold-leaf halo; ornamental borders; symbolic miniature yajña-altar motif behind.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework; calm domestic cowshed; luminous but restrained aura around the act of feeding.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: pastoral hillside cowshed; tender interaction; soft gradients; emphasis on compassion and simplicity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic and compassionate","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, instructive, gently emphatic"}
FAQs
It shows a Purāṇic tendency to valorize non-violent, everyday welfare acts (feeding) by equating them with the prestige of older ritual categories.
No location is specified; the verse concerns daily ethical conduct.
Providing regular nourishment to vulnerable animals is framed as a highly meritorious act.
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