Varaha Purana 188.8 — Adhyaya 188, Shloka 8

Section on the Origin and Procedure of Piṇḍa-Rites and Śrāddha: Rules of Mourning Impurity

Aśauca

Devanagari script

एकोद्दिष्टं मनुष्याणां चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य माधवि॥ यथैकं द्रव्यसंयुक्तं स्वं विप्रं भोजयेत् तदा

Transliteration

ekoddiṣṭaṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ cāturvarṇyasya mādhavi || yathaikaṃ dravyasaṃyuktaṃ svaṃ vipraṃ bhojayet tadā

Translation

يا مَادهافِي، لأهل الفَرْنات الأربع يُقام طقس الإيكودِّشْتا؛ وحينئذٍ يُطعِم المرءُ البراهمنَ الذي دعاه هو نفسه قُربانًا واحدًا مُعَدًّا على الوجه الصحيح.

Word by Word

• ekoddiṣṭam: the ekoddiṣṭa offering/rite (single oblation for a departed)
• ekoddiṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekoddiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; eka+uddiṣṭa)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मपद—‘एकस्य उद्दिष्टम्’ इति तत्पुरुषसमास

• manuṣyāṇām: of humans
• manuṣyāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• cāturvarṇyasya: of the fourfold social order (four varṇas)
• cāturvarṇyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāturvarṇya (प्रातिपदिक; catur+varṇa)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘चतुर्णां वर्णानां भावः’ इति तत्पुरुष

• mādhavi: O Mādhavī
• mādhavi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā: as/when/according to how
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/adverb (समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ) introducing manner/condition

• ekam: one (single)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम्

• dravya-saṃyuktam: accompanied with materials/offerings
• dravya-saṃyuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dravya-saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक; dravya+saṃyukta)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘द्रव्येण संयुक्तम्’ इति तत्पुरुष; ekam इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• svam: one’s own
• svam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (vipram इत्यस्य)

• vipram: a brāhmaṇa/priest
• vipram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhojayet: should feed (cause to eat)
• bhojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• tadā: then/at that time
• tadā: Kāla (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक)

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":"curious (addressed as Mādhavī; attentive recipient)","key_question":"None (instructional clarification about applicability of ekoddiṣṭa across varṇas and the proper feeding protocol)."}

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":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"Ekoddiṣṭa is prescribed for humans of all four varṇas; in that rite, feed one’s invited brāhmaṇa with a single, unified properly prepared offering-set.","karmic_consequence":"Uniform, rule-bound performance yields pitṛ-satisfaction and social legitimacy of the rite; deviation (improper multiplicity/impure preparation or wrong recipient protocol) diminishes śrāddha efficacy and invites blame for dharma-bhraṃśa."}

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 universalism (within varṇāśrama frame)","core_concept":"Ritual duty toward ancestors is universal to society; efficacy depends on saṃskāra (proper preparation) and ekāgratā (unified offering).","practical_application":"When performing ekoddiṣṭa, keep the offering coherent (one integrated set), invite a qualified brāhmaṇa, and avoid ostentation or procedural fragmentation."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Studies","Social Dharma"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: dharmya

Geographic Context

Type: ritual household/maṇḍapa context

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa ch.188 (ekoddiṣṭa definition and feeding rule)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha, as teacher, addresses Mādhavī (Bhu Devī) while describing the ekoddiṣṭa rule: a single unified offering and feeding an invited brāhmaṇa; the scene blends dialogue with a ritual vignette.","item_prompts":["teacher-figure (Varāha implied, not necessarily boar-form) seated in discourse posture","Mādhavī/Bhū Devī listening","single offering tray (unified provisions)","one invited brāhmaṇa seated to be fed","scriptural palm-leaf or gesture of instruction"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dialogue composition—teacher and listener in profile, with a small inset of the brāhmaṇa feeding; warm flat colors, ornate but restrained.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central didactic pair with gold-leaf highlights, inset ritual feeding scene, decorative arch framing the instruction.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: courtly instructional scene with fine detailing, subtle expressions, clear depiction of ‘single offering’ tray.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate hillside āśrama-like discourse, soft palette, small ritual vignette beside the speakers."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, clarifying","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani or Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, explanatory, composed"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dharmaśāstra Interface
• Śrāddha
• Vaiṣṇava Textual Tradition

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a standardized ekoddiṣṭa (single-deceased-focused) śrāddha model within a Purāṇic setting, reflecting the convergence of Purāṇa narrative frameworks with dharma-ritual prescriptions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic site is named in this verse; it is procedural rather than topographical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To perform commemorative rites in an orderly, restrained manner—here expressed as feeding an eligible brāhmaṇa with a single coherent set of offerings for the intended deceased.