Varaha Purana 21.24 — Adhyaya 21, Shloka 24
The Disruption of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice, the Hari–Hara Conflict, and the Establishment of Rudra’s Sacrificial Share
शुश्राव च तदा शब्दानृत्विजां दक्षसद्मनि । आश्रमे यज्ञिनां चोच्चैर्योगस्थैरिति कीर्तितम् ॥ २१.२५ ॥
śuśrāva ca tadā śabdān ṛtvijāṃ dakṣasadmani | āśrame yajñināṃ coccair yogasthair iti kīrtitam || 21.25 ||
ثم سمع أصواتَ الكهنة القائمين على القربان (ṛtvij) في دارِ دَكشا (Dakṣa)، وفي أشرمِ المضحّين كان يُنادى بذلك جهارًا على ألسنة من استقرّوا في سكينة اليوغا.
Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework; not explicit in excerpt)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"attentive; the narrative turns to ritual soundscape on Earth","key_question":"What ritual activity was occurring at Dakṣa’s abode and the sacrificers’ āśrama, and what was heard there?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Implicit valorization of ṛtvij-pravṛtti and yajña-āśrama discipline: sacrifice is conducted with ordered recitation and yogic composure.","karmic_consequence":"Upholding yajña and disciplined recitation sustains cosmic order; disruption/insult in sacrificial context precipitates conflict (seen in ensuing anger)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Yajña as the audible signature of ṛta: the world is ‘held’ by mantra, priestly function, and yogic steadiness—prefiguring the Purāṇic idea of the cosmos as sacrifice.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Sound of ṛtvij-mantras as the ‘breath’ of yajña; Dakṣa’s sadman as the ritual ‘body’ where functions (hotṛ/adhvaryu/udgātṛ/brahman) operate.","vedantic_connection":"Nāda/mantra as a manifestation of brahman in ordered form; disciplined mind (yoga-stha) as prerequisite for right action (karma-yoga)."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ritual ethics / discipline","core_concept":"Ritual sound (mantra) and inner steadiness (yoga-sthiti) together constitute sacred action; external rite without inner composure is incomplete.","practical_application":"When performing pūjā, japa, or śrāddha-like rites, maintain both correct utterance and mental steadiness; treat ritual spaces as ethically sensitive."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual Culture","Soundscape of Sacrifice","Āśrama Life","Narrative Setting"]
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: sacred ritual site/āśrama setting
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 21.21.26 (anger triggered after hearing words/sounds)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rudra hears the loud, rhythmic sounds of priests chanting and officiating within Dakṣa’s ritual residence; yogic, composed sacrificers proclaim within an āśrama.","item_prompts":["fire altar (vedi)","ṛtvij priests with ladles","chanting mouths/hand gestures","smoke rising","āśrama huts","yogic seated figures"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: layered scene—foreground yajña-vedi with priests; background āśrama with yogastha sages; stylized sound-lines indicating mantra resonance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf flames and altar ornaments; richly dressed priests; embossed mantra-scroll motifs; luminous smoke patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant, detailed ritual implements; subtle depiction of sound via flowing calligraphic curves; calm yogic faces.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate hermitage setting with small yajña fire; priests and sages in a forest clearing; delicate depiction of chanting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic, resonant","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"sonorous, measured, with clear articulation of consonants"}
FAQs
It reflects a Purāṇic portrayal of Vedic-style ritual environments—priests (ṛtvij) and sacrificers (yajñin)—and preserves cultural memory of ceremonial spaces associated with the Dakṣa-yajña narrative cycle.
No explicit toponym is given here; the locus is described as “Dakṣa’s abode” (dakṣasadman), a narrative-ritual setting rather than a securely identifiable modern geographic site in this isolated verse.
The verse primarily functions descriptively; implicitly, it foregrounds disciplined ritual order and composed conduct (“yogasthaiḥ”), emphasizing regulated speech and action within communal ceremonial settings.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.