Varaha Purana 108.5 — Adhyaya 108, Shloka 5
The Eulogy and Procedure of Donating the ‘Salt-Cow’
Lavaṇadhenu
सूत्रपुच्छां ताम्रपृष्ठां दर्भरोमां पयस्विनीम् ॥ कांस्योपदोहां राजेन्द्र घण्टाभरणभूषिताम् ॥
sūtrapucchāṃ tāmrapṛṣṭhāṃ darbharomāṃ payasvinīm || kāṃsyopadohāṃ rājendra ghaṇṭābharaṇabhūṣitām ||
ข้าแต่พระราชาธิราช จงจัดทำให้มีหางเป็นด้าย หลังเป็นทองแดง มีขนเป็นหญ้าดรรภะ และเป็นผู้ให้น้ำนม; มีภาชนะรีดนมทำด้วยโลหะระฆัง ประดับด้วยกระดิ่งและเครื่องอลังการ
Hotṛ
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"What final fittings (tail, back, hair, milking vessel, bells/ornaments) complete the lavanadhenu so it is ritually ‘milk-bearing’ and fit for donation?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Finish the lavanadhenu with thread-tail, copper back, darbha-grass hair, a bell-metal milking vessel, and adorn it with bells and ornaments, presenting it as ‘paysvinī’ (milk-bearing).","karmic_consequence":"Completeness and auspicious adornment signify full śraddhā and confer enhanced merit; an incomplete/inauspicious presentation is a doṣa that weakens the dāna’s fruit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The ‘milk-bearing’ designation and inclusion of the milking vessel ritualize abundance: the gift is framed not as inert matter but as a living source of nourishment—an ethical ideal of sustaining others.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"Transforming objects into a ‘giver of sustenance’ mirrors the Vedāntic ethic of seeing wealth as īśvara-ārpaṇa (offering to the Lord) and loka-saṅgraha (support of the world)."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dāna as sustenance","core_concept":"True giving aims at ongoing nourishment (payaḥ/poshana), not mere display; utility (milking vessel) is part of compassion.","practical_application":"Prefer gifts that enable livelihood and continuity (tools, vessels, resources), and present them respectfully and completely."}
Subject Matter: ["Material Culture","Ritual Practice","Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual donation setting
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 108.1–108.4 (construction and materials of the lavanadhenu)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The completed salt-cow stands adorned: thread tail, copper backplate, darbha-grass hair, bells and ornaments; beside it a bell-metal milking pot, presenting the cow as ‘milk-bearing’.","item_prompts":["thread tail","copper back sheen","darbha grass mane/hair","bell-metal (kāṃsya) milking vessel","hanging bells","ornamental garlands"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong copper tones on the back, textured darbha hair, rhythmic bell motifs; ritual attendants preparing to present the gift.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: gold-leaf on ornaments and bell fixtures; copper back rendered with rich metallic paint; prominent milking vessel in foreground.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: nuanced metallic rendering (copper vs bell-metal); detailed bell strings; dignified, complete icon of the dāna-cow.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: charming cow profile with stylized bells; copper back as a warm panel; small milking pot; narrative feel of ‘gift ready to be offered’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"concluding, auspicious","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"confident, benedictory"}
FAQs
It provides evidence for the named materials (copper, bell-metal) and ritual grass (darbha) in gift-rite descriptions, supporting cross-disciplinary study with archaeology and material history.
No geographic location is mentioned.
The verse emphasizes completeness and dignity in gifting—adornment and functional elements are included as part of responsible donation.
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