Varaha Purana 104.10: Adhyaya 104, Shloka 10

The Eulogy and Procedure of the ‘Honey-Cow’ Gift

Madhudhenudāna

Devanagari script

दद्याद्विप्राय धेनुं तां मन्त्रपूर्वां विचक्षणः॥ पुच्छदेशोपविष्टस्तु गन्धधूपादिपूजिता॥ आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन मुद्रिकावर्णमात्रकैः॥ स्वशक्त्या दक्षिणां दत्त्वा वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः॥ जलपूर्वं तु कर्त्तव्यं पश्चाद्यानं समर्पयेत्॥ रसज्ञा सर्वदेवानां सर्वभूतहिते रता॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 104.10

Transliteration

dadyād viprāya dhenuṃ tāṃ mantra-pūrvāṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ || puccha-deśopaviṣṭas tu gandha-dhūpādi-pūjitā || ācchādya vastra-yugmena mudrikā-varṇa-mātrakair || sva-śaktyā dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā vitta-śāṭhya-vivarjitaḥ || jala-pūrvaṃ tu kartavyaṃ paścād yānaṃ samarpayet || rasa-jñā sarva-devānāṃ sarva-bhūta-hite ratā ||

Translation

ผู้รู้พึงถวายโคนั้นแก่พราหมณ์ผู้ทรงวิชา โดยมีมนตร์นำหน้า ครั้นนั่งใกล้บริเวณหางแล้ว บูชาด้วยเครื่องหอม ธูป และสิ่งอื่น ๆ เมื่อคลุมด้วยผ้าคู่หนึ่งและประดับด้วยเครื่องหมายเป็นโทเคนสีดุจเหรียญ แล้วให้ทักษิณาตามกำลัง โดยปราศจากการคดโกงเรื่องทรัพย์ พึงทำการถวายด้วยน้ำก่อน แล้วจึงถวายยาน (พาหนะ) ภายหลัง นางถูกกล่าวว่าเป็นผู้รู้รสสาระเพื่อเทพทั้งปวง และมุ่งมั่นเพื่อประโยชน์แก่สรรพสัตว์ทั้งหลาย

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Word by Word

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विप्राय: to a brāhmaṇa
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• धेनुम्: the cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मन्त्र-पूर्वाम्: preceded by mantras
• मन्त्र-पूर्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मन्त्रः पूर्वः यस्याः/मन्त्रेण पूर्वा)

• विचक्षणः: the discerning one
• विचक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (agent)

• पुच्छ-देश-उपविष्टः: seated at the tail-region
• पुच्छ-देश-उपविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + उपविष्ट (√विश् धातु, उपसर्ग उप + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-कृदन्त ‘seated’; ‘seated at the tail-region’

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• गन्ध-धूप-आदि-पूजिता: worshipped with perfume, incense, etc.
• गन्ध-धूप-आदि-पूजिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + धूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + पूजित (पूज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-कृदन्त; (धेनुः) गन्धधूपादिभिः पूजिता

• आच्छाद्य: having covered
• आच्छाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√छद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having covered’

• वस्त्र-युग्मेन: with a pair of cloths
• वस्त्र-युग्मेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वस्त्रयोः युग्मम्)

• मुद्रिका-वर्ण-मात्रकैः: with small tokens/marks of ring-color (i.e., ring-like marks)
• मुद्रिका-वर्ण-मात्रकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रिका (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मुद्रिकायाः वर्णः; तस्य मात्रकाः = small tokens/marks)

• स्व-शक्त्या: according to one’s capacity
• स्व-शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वा शक्ति:)

• दक्षिणाम्: a gift/fee
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), ‘having given’

• वित्त-शाठ्य-विवर्जितः: free from stinginess/deceit about wealth
• वित्त-शाठ्य-विवर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शाठ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (वि-√वृज्/वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-कृदन्त; ‘free from deceit regarding wealth’

• जल-पूर्वम्: with water first
• जल-पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘with water first / preceded by water’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत् (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः ‘it should be done’

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (afterwards)

• यानम्: a vehicle/ride
• यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समर्पयेत्: should offer
• समर्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should offer/dedicate’

• रस-ज्ञा: knowing the essence
• रस-ज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रसस्य ज्ञा = knowing the essence/taste)

• सर्व-देवानाम्: of all the gods
• सर्व-देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे देवाः)

• सर्व-भूत-हिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-हिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां भूतानां हितम्)

• रता: engaged/delighting
• रता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘engaged/delighting’

Speaker

Varāha (default, instructional voice)

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":"Give the cow with mantra, worship her with gandha-dhūpa, cover with garments and tokens, give dakṣiṇā without deceit, perform jalapūrva first, then offer a vehicle.","karmic_consequence":"Truthful, capacity-based dakṣiṇā and complete honoring of the gift-object yield full puṇya and divine satisfaction; wealth-deceit (vitta-śāṭhya) taints the act and reduces/negates merit."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The cow as ‘rasajñā’ and ‘sarvadeva-mayī’ functions as a portable yajña-field: honoring her equals honoring the deities and beings, aligning dāna with cosmic maintenance (loka-saṃgraha).","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Not explicit Varāha-body mapping; implicit yajña logic: mantra + pūjā + dakṣiṇā + jalapūrva = sacrificial completeness transferred into dāna.","vedantic_connection":"Ethical purification of artha (through non-deceit and welfare-intent) supports sattva and loka-hitārtha karma, a practical bridge between pravṛtti-dharma and inner purification."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics + ritual integration","core_concept":"Right giving requires inner honesty (aśāṭhya) and outer completeness (mantra, pūjā, dakṣiṇā), oriented to sarva-bhūta-hita.","practical_application":"Perform dāna with reverence: worship the gift-object, give within means, avoid misrepresentation of wealth, and complete jalapūrva and ancillary offerings."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Procedure","Material Culture"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇā

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (dāna-vedikā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 104.11 (tail-touch and jalapūrva); Varāha Purāṇa 104.13–14 (invocations and acceptance mantra)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A full madhudhenū-dāna ceremony: the cow is perfumed and incensed, draped with two garments, marked with tokens, donor seated near the tail, water-offering performed, then a conveyance is presented.","item_prompts":["incense smoke","perfume vessel","two cloths draped on cow","token/coin marks","donor seated at tail-region","water libation","small cart/vehicle offering"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: elaborate ritual tableau with incense curls, richly patterned cloth on cow, donor seated near tail, brass vessels, subdued sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf on ornaments, vessels, and haloed brāhmaṇa; richly jeweled cow; vehicle rendered as ornate palanquin/cart.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition, delicate ornamentation, clear depiction of jalapūrva and incense, calm devotional faces.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative sequence feel—libation then vehicle—set in a simple courtyard with stylized textiles and gentle colors."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic, reverent","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"solemn, careful enunciation"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dāna (Gift-ritual)
• Sanskrit Ritual Manuals (vidhi)
• Indic Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It combines procedural detail with an explicit ethic against financial deceit, offering a window into how ritual charity was idealized as both formal and morally regulated.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named; the verse is a step-by-step ritual prescription.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To give sincerely (without wealth-deceit), proportionately (according to capacity), and with respectful ritual completeness.