Varaha Purana 108.10: Adhyaya 108, Shloka 10
The Eulogy and Procedure of Donating the ‘Salt-Cow’
Lavaṇadhenu
आच्छाद्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन दक्षिणां कंबलं ददेत ॥ पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन स्वशक्त्या कनकेन तु
ācchādya vastrayugmena dakṣiṇāṃ kambalaṃ dadet || pūrvoktena vidhānena svaśaktyā kanakena tu
เมื่อคลุมด้วยผ้าคู่หนึ่งแล้ว พึงถวายผ้าห่มขนสัตว์เป็นทักษิณา ตามวิธีที่กล่าวไว้ก่อน และพึงถวายทองคำตามกำลังของตนด้วย
Varāha (default, speaker not explicitly marked in this verse-fragment)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Following the earlier procedure, cover the gift with a pair of garments and give dakṣiṇā as a woolen blanket, adding gold according to one’s means.","karmic_consequence":"Proportionate giving (svashakti) with proper dakṣiṇā completes the rite and accrues merit without causing self-harm; stinginess or omission of dakṣiṇā is treated as incomplete dāna with reduced fruit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics of proportionate generosity","core_concept":"Dharma is sustainable: give with honor and completeness, but calibrated to capacity (svashakti), avoiding both miserliness and self-destructive excess.","practical_application":"When performing a gift-rite, include an appropriate dakṣiṇā (here, blanket) and add gold as feasible; keep the procedure consistent with prior injunctions."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Economy","Cultural Heritage"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: śraddhā-bhakti
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 108.6 (covering with garments); Varāha Purāṇa 108.6-9 (the ‘previously stated procedure’ for this dāna cycle)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A donor completes the donation by draping two garments over the main gift, then presenting a woolen blanket as dakṣiṇā and a small measure of gold, with a priest overseeing the correct sequence.","item_prompts":["pair of garments covering the offering","woolen blanket (kambala) folded as dakṣiṇā","gold coins or small gold piece (kanaka)","priest indicating ‘pūrvokta-vidhāna’ continuity","donor’s respectful posture","ritual space with minimal altar items"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold textile patterns on the blanket and garments, priest guiding the sequence, warm palette emphasizing ritual completion.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: gold-leaf accent on the gold gift and garment borders, richly ornamented offering tray, iconic frontal composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: detailed fabric textures for wool blanket, subtle gold sheen, calm faces, elegant interior setting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: cozy domestic ritual scene, fine textile depiction, gentle interaction between donor and priest, soft background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"concluding, orderly, reassuring","suggested_raga":"Saurashtram","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"settling, directive, composed"}
FAQs
It reflects Purāṇic-era norms of ritual patronage, where cloth, blankets, and gold function as socially recognized forms of compensation and merit-linked gifting.
No geographic site is named in this verse.
To give respectfully and proportionately—offering gifts and honoraria in accordance with prescribed procedure and one’s means.
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