Varaha Purana 128.21 — Adhyaya 128, Shloka 21

Rites for the comb, collyrium, and mirror; initiations for the four social orders; and the Gaṇāntikā vow/insignia

Devanagari script

देवाभिवादनं कृत्वा पुरो भागवतेषु च ॥ पश्चात्तु भोजनं दद्यादपराधबहिष्कृतम् ॥

Transliteration

devābhivādanaṁ kṛtvā puro bhāgavateṣu ca || paścāt tu bhojanaṁ dadyād aparādha-bahiṣkṛtam ||

Translation

بعد تقديم التحية للإله، وإظهار التوقير أولًا بين عُبّاد الرب، ينبغي بعد ذلك أن يُقدَّم الطعام، مع استبعاد ما تلوّث بإثمٍ أو إساءة.

Word by Word

• deva-abhivādanam: salutation to the deity

• kṛtvā: having done

• puraḥ: first/in front

• bhāgavateṣu: among Bhāgavatas (devotees of Bhagavān)

• ca: and

• paścāt: afterwards

• tu: then

• bhojanam: food/meal

• dadyāt: should give

• aparādha: offence/wrongdoing

• bahiṣkṛtam: excluded/kept out

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Varāha instructs Bhūdevī on Vaiṣṇava community etiquette: deity-salutation, honoring bhāgavatas, then food-giving with moral purity."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, learning ritual-social order","key_question":"What is the proper sequence and purity-criteria for offering food within a Vaiṣṇava community setting?"}

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":"First salute the deity, then honor the Lord’s devotees; only thereafter give food, excluding food tainted by offense/wrongdoing (aparādha).","karmic_consequence":"Proper precedence and pure offering yields merit and devotional refinement; offering/consuming aparādha-tainted food leads to demerit and spiritual setback (bhakti-aparādha)."}

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":"bhakti-ethics (aparādha-avoidance)","core_concept":"Devotion is safeguarded by maryādā: God-first, devotees-next; purity is moral as well as ritual.","practical_application":"Before feeding others, perform deva-namaskāra, respect senior devotees, and ensure offerings are free from dishonest gain, insult, or transgressive contamination."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Procedure","Community Practice"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 128 (dīkṣā and conduct section)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple courtyard: worshipper salutes the deity, then bows to bhāgavatas seated in front; afterward distributes food, carefully separating impure/tainted portions.","item_prompts":["temple icon/altar","folded hands (añjali)","row of Vaiṣṇava devotees","serving vessels and leaf-plates","a separate rejected portion marked as ‘aparādha-bahiṣkṛta’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: frontal deity shrine, devotees in orderly row, server in respectful posture; emphasize ritual cleanliness and hierarchy of honor.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted deity niche; devotees with tilaka; ornate serving pots; strong emphasis on auspiciousness of annadāna.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined courtly temple scene; subtle expressions of humility; detailed utensils and textiles.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative vignette with gentle colors; devotees seated on rugs; server moving from shrine to devotees to food distribution."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, reverent","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, instructive, composed"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Food Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a Purāṇic linkage between devotion, community precedence (Bhāgavatas), and ethical constraints around offerings and distribution of food.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is identified in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Food distribution is to be preceded by reverence and governed by moral cleanliness—what is associated with offence/wrongdoing is to be excluded.