Varaha Purana 111.2: Adhyaya 111, Shloka 2

The Eulogy of Donating a Tawny (Kapilā) Cow

Uttara Bhāga · Dāna-Māhātmya (Gift-ritual eulogies) — Kapilā-dhenu-dāna

Devanagari script

पूर्वोक्तेन विधानॆन दद्याद्धेनुं सवत्सकाम् ॥ सर्वालङ्कारसंयुक्तां सर्वरत्नसमन्विताम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 111.2

Transliteration

pūrvoktena vidhānena dadyād dhenuṃ savatsakām || sarvālaṅkārasaṃyuktāṃ sarvaratnasamanvitām ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

ตามพิธีที่กล่าวไว้ก่อนแล้ว พึงถวายทานโคพร้อมลูกโค; ให้ประดับด้วยเครื่องอลังการทั้งปวง และประกอบด้วยรัตนะนานาประการครบถ้วน

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Word by Word

• pūrva-uktena: by the previously stated
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः ('previously stated'); विशेषणम् (of vidhāna)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac)

• vidhānena: procedure; rule
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)

• dadyāt: should give
• Type: Verb
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: dā (धातु)

• dhenum: a cow
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)

• sa-vatsakām: with a calf
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); बहुव्रीहिः ('having a calf'); विशेषणम् (of dhenu)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + vatsaka (प्रातिपदिक)

• sarva-alaṅkāra-saṃyuktām: adorned with all ornaments
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः ('endowed with all ornaments'); विशेषणम् (of dhenu)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + alaṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj)

• sarva-ratna-samanvitām: possessing all gems
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); तत्पुरुषः ('endowed with all gems'); विशेषणम् (of dhenu)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त; √i with sam-; 'endowed')

Sandhi Notes

• dadyād dhenuṃ: dadyāt + dhenuṃ → dadyād dhenuṃ (final -t before voiced dh- becomes -d)
• sarvālaṅkāra-: sarva + alaṅkāra → sarvālaṅkāra (अ + अ = आ)

Speaker and setting

Shanta rasaSetting: Ritual space/household-goshala context

Speaker

Hotā

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Instructed/attentive within a ritual-ethical frame (dialogue addressee implied)

What she asks

How should the prescribed dāna be performed according to the earlier procedure?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Karma-yoga / dharma (right action)

Subjects

EthicsRitual CultureMaterial Culture

Core idea

Merit accrues through properly performed giving aligned with śāstric procedure.

In practice

Perform go-dāna with care (cow + calf), honoring the rite and the recipient’s dignity.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Dāna (Gift traditions)
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents normative ideals of elite gifting—pairing ritual prescription with material display—useful for studying economy, patronage, and ritual aesthetics in Sanskrit textual culture.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To perform giving in an orderly, prescribed manner, emphasizing completeness (cow with calf) and respect expressed through adornment.