Varaha Purana 112.28 — Adhyaya 112, Shloka 28

Praise and Procedure of Donating the Two-Faced Kapilā Cow and the Golden Pot

Hema-kumbha

Devanagari script

आसन्नप्रसवां धेनुं दानार्थं प्रतिपालयेत ॥ कपिलार्द्धप्रसूता वै दातव्या च द्विजन्मने ॥

Transliteration

āsanna-prasavāṃ dhenuṃ dānārthaṃ pratipālayet || kapilārddha-prasūtā vai dātavyā ca dvijan-mane ||

Translation

دان کے لیے جو گائے ولادت کے قریب ہو اس کی نگہداشت کرنی چاہیے؛ اور کپلا (سرخی مائل) گائے جو ابھی ابھی بچہ جنی ہو، وہ یقیناً دِوِج (دو بار جنم لینے والے) کو دان دینے کے لائق ہے۔

Word by Word

• आसन्न-प्रसवाम्: near to calving
• आसन्न-प्रसवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to धेनुम्; 'having near delivery'

• धेनुम्: a cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• दान-अर्थम्: for donation
• दान-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; 'for the purpose of giving'

• प्रतिपालयेत्: should tend/maintain
• प्रतिपालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√पाल् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• कपिला-अर्द्ध-प्रसूता: a tawny/kapilā cow, having (recently) calved
• कपिला-अर्द्ध-प्रसूता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसूता (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective referring to धेनुः (understood); 'having half (its body) tawny; having calved' / 'partly tawny, having given birth'

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for emphasis/indeed

• दातव्या: should be given
• दातव्या: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative participle (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'to be given' (agreeing with धेनुः understood)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• द्विजन्मने: to a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजन्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th—चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); 'twice-born'

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker within Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Instructional address within Varāha–Pṛthivī framework; no direct physical interaction described"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"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":"For go-dāna, one should properly maintain a cow near calving, and a recently-calved tawny (kapilā) cow is to be gifted to a qualified twice-born recipient.","karmic_consequence":"Properly performed go-dāna yields great puṇya and auspicious afterlife; neglecting stewardship/fitness of the gift diminishes merit and incurs demerit for cruelty or improper dāna."}

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":"dharma-ethics of dāna","core_concept":"Dāna is not mere transfer of property; it requires ahiṃsā, caretaking, and fitness of the gift to become puṇya-bearing.","practical_application":"Before gifting a cow, ensure humane upkeep, health, and suitability (especially around calving), and choose a qualified dvija recipient."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual practice","Animal stewardship"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: normative ritual space (gṛha/śrauta-smārta setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 112.31-34 (phala-śruti and procedure of kapilā-go-dāna)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household pasture scene: a well-cared cow near calving, attendants providing fodder and water, with a brāhmaṇa recipient nearby, indicating the intent of gifting.","item_prompts":["kapilā cow","calf/near-calving signs","fodder bundle","water pot","simple cowshed","brāhmaṇa with staff/kuśa"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette; serene pastoral courtyard; kapilā cow highlighted; Varāha as unseen narrator presence suggested by a small emblem or haloed corner figure.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore composition with gold accents on ritual vessels; central kapilā cow; stylized brāhmaṇa recipient; ornate border suggesting dharmic sanctity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore-style soft shading; intimate domestic ritual setting; emphasis on gentle caretaking gestures and calm faces.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature pastoral landscape; rolling greens; small figures; kapilā cow as focal point; narrative clarity with minimal props."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, calm","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, instructional, gently emphatic on key injunctions"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dharma-śāstra Discourse
• Go-dāna
• Pastoral Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents practical norms around go-dāna, indicating that the gift is not merely symbolic but involves care, timing, and suitability.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

A gift should be responsibly prepared—through prior care—and offered in a form considered appropriate within the text’s ritual-ethical framework.