Varaha Purana 100.12 — Adhyaya 100, Shloka 12

Ritual Procedure for the Donation of the ‘Water-Cow’

Jaladhenu

Devanagari script

साधुविप्राय राजेन्द्र श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये ॥ तपोवृद्धाय पात्राय दातव्या च कुटुम्बिने ॥

Transliteration

sādhuviprāya rājendra śrotriyāyāhitāgnaye || tapovṛddhāya pātrāya dātavyā ca kuṭumbine

Translation

اے راجاؤں کے سردار! یہ دان کسی نیک و فاضل وِپْر کو دینا چاہیے—ایسے شروتریہ کو جو اہیتاگنی (مقدس آگوں) کو قائم رکھتا ہو، جو تپسیا میں بڑھا ہوا ہو، جو اہلِ استحقاق ہو، اور نیز خاندان والے گِرہستھ کو بھی۔

Word by Word

• sādhu-viprāya: to a good priest
• sādhu-viprāya: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक) + vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः (good/virtuous priest)

• rājendra: O king
• rājendra: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः

• śrotriyāya: to a learned Vedic scholar
• śrotriyāya: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana

• āhita-agnaye: to one who maintains sacred fires
• āhita-agnaye: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dhā/ā-√dhā) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (one who has established the sacred fires)

• tapas-vṛddhāya: to one advanced in austerity
• tapas-vṛddhāya: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (grown/advanced in austerity)

• pātrāya: to a worthy recipient
• pātrāya: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana

• dātavyā: should be given
• dātavyā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा, धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्), Strīliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; agrees with implied 'dhenuḥ' (cow)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• kuṭumbine: to a householder
• kuṭumbine: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭumbin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Give the dhenu to a worthy brāhmaṇa: virtuous, śrotriya, maintaining sacred fires, advanced in tapas, and a proper householder.","karmic_consequence":"Right pātra ensures maximal merit and purification; wrong recipient risks loss of merit and ethical fault (implied)."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"social-dharma / ethics","core_concept":"Merit depends not only on giving but on discernment (viveka) about pātratā—virtue, learning, and disciplined life.","practical_application":"When donating, prioritize recipients who sustain śruti, agnihotra/vaidika duties, and ethical household life; avoid indiscriminate gifting for display."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Cultural Heritage","Social History"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: vīra

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 100.12 (offer to a learned man); Varāha Purāṇa 100.14 (purificatory fruit)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha’s instruction (addressing a king) enumerates the ideal recipient: a virtuous śrotriya maintaining sacred fires, austere, worthy, and a family householder.","item_prompts":["king seated listening","teacher figure (Varāha implied off-scene)","brāhmaṇa with fire-altar (āhavanīya)","sacred fires","Vedic manuscripts/palm leaves","water pot and ladle","family household cues (wife/children in background)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: didactic tableau—king and priest near a stylized fire-altar; strong outlines; ritual reds/oranges for flames; calm authoritative mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate court scene with gold highlights on fire-altar and vessels; brāhmaṇa depicted with dignified posture; rich architectural frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined courtly instruction scene; detailed fire implements; subtle expressions emphasizing discernment and gravity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative grouping—king, priest, and small fire-altar in a pavilion; soft hills/trees; emphasis on storytelling."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative instruction","suggested_raga":"Bhairava","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"firm, precise"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ethics
• Dāna Norms
• Sanskrit Social Terminology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It outlines recipient-qualification categories (śrotriya, āhitāgni, kuṭumbin), offering evidence for social roles and ethical norms governing patronage in Purāṇic contexts.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse teaches discernment in giving: gifts are to be directed toward recipients characterized by learning, disciplined practice, and social responsibility.