Varaha Purana 8.44 — Adhyaya 8, Shloka 44

Dialogue on the Ethical Limits of Subsistence and the Five Great Sacrifices

Dharmavyādha, Mātaṅga, and Prasanna

Devanagari script

त्रिधा स्थितं तिग्मरथाङ्गपाणिनं नयस्थितं तृप्तमनुत्तमैर्गुणैः । निःश्रेयसाख्यं क्षपितेतरं गुरुं नमामि विष्णुं पुरुषोत्तमं त्वहम् ॥ ८.४४ ॥

Transliteration

tridhā sthitaṃ tigmarathāṅgapāṇinaṃ nayasthitaṃ tṛptam anuttamair guṇaiḥ | niḥśreyasākhyaṃ kṣapitetaraṃ guruṃ namāmi viṣṇuṃ puruṣottamaṃ tv aham || 8.44 ||

Translation

أنحني لفيشنو، بوروشوتّما—القائم على نحوٍ ثلاثي، الحامل في يده قرصًا (تشاكرا) حادَّ الحافة؛ الثابت في نهج الاستقامة، الراضي بصفاتٍ لا تُضاهى. هو المسمّى «نيهشرياسا» أي الخير الأسمى؛ وهو المعلّم الجليل الذي يبدّد ما يعوق، والمرشد الموقَّر الذي يُهتدى به.

Word by Word

• tridhā: in three ways
• tridhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'in three ways')

• sthitam: situated/established
• sthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृत-प्रत्यय (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण

• tigma-ratha-aṅga-pāṇinam: whose hand bears the sharp discus
• tigma-ratha-aṅga-pāṇinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tigma (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha-aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ('whose hand holds the sharp discus (rathāṅga)'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण

• naya-sthitam: established in right conduct/policy
• naya-sthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naya (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('in policy/justice' + 'situated'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण

• tṛptam: content/satisfied
• tṛptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛp (धातु)
• Form: कृत-प्रत्यय (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'satisfied/content'

• anuttamaiḥ: unsurpassed
• anuttamaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; गुणैः इति विशेषण

• guṇaiḥ: with qualities
• guṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• niḥśreyasa-ākhyam: called 'ultimate good/liberation'
• niḥśreyasa-ākhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥśreyasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('called niḥśreyasa' = 'final beatitude'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण

• kṣapita-itaram: destroyer of others (evil)
• kṣapita-itaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣapita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('destroyed' + 'others'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण

• gurum: the venerable one/teacher
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• namāmi: I bow to
• namāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• puruṣottamam: Purushottama
• puruṣottamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣottama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (emphatic/contrastive)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग (व्यवहारतः), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default narrative framework; explicit speaker not stated in excerpt)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None (philosophical praise of Puruṣottama as guru and niḥśreyasa)."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

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

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"Centers ‘naya’/right conduct as a divine attribute and implied human ideal; Viṣṇu as guru leading to niḥśreyasa (highest good).","karmic_consequence":"Following naya and seeking the guru leads to niḥśreyasa; ‘itaram’ (the obstructive/other) is destroyed—bondage/ignorance removed (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":"Vedāntic tone: niḥśreyasa as mokṣa; guru as remover of ‘itara’ (avidyā/obstacles)."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"mokṣa-śāstra / ethical metaphysics","core_concept":"Puruṣottama is the embodiment of niḥśreyasa; right conduct (naya) and surrender to the guru-principle remove obstructive ‘otherness’ (ignorance/adharma).","practical_application":"Adopt dharmic discernment in decisions (naya), and pair devotion with inquiry/discipline aimed at liberation."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Philosophical Theology","Ethics (Naya/Dharma)","Devotional Literature"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Stotra’s shift from heroic epithets to mokṣa vocabulary (niḥśreyasa, guru)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu as Puruṣottama holding the sharp discus, serene and content, depicted as the venerable guru bestowing the highest good (niḥśreyasa).","item_prompts":["Viṣṇu with sudarśana-cakra emphasized (sharp-edged)","calm, teaching posture (abhaya/varada)","scripture or guru-seat symbolism","threefold motif hinted (triad emblem or three bands of light)","aura suggesting liberation/niḥśreyasa"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Puruṣottama with prominent cakra, seated like a guru on a stylized pedestal, threefold luminous bands behind, restrained serene expression.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf halo and ornaments, cakra rendered with embossed brilliance, guru-like throne, symbolic triad motifs in arch design.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: soft, contemplative Viṣṇu with refined cakra, gentle varada mudrā, minimal background with triadic light gradients.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate teaching scene—Viṣṇu as guru under a canopy, disciples implied, threefold motif as three peaks/three rays, delicate palette."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative, philosophical devotion","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"deep, measured, slightly didactic emphasis on key terms"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Sanskrit
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Stotra

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a Purāṇic stotra-style register that integrates theological epithets with ethical vocabulary (e.g., naya), illustrating how Purāṇic texts transmit devotion alongside normative ideals.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it functions as a doctrinal praise of Viṣṇu rather than a sacred-geography passage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds alignment with naya (ethical order/right conduct) and presents the ‘highest good’ (niḥśreyasa) as the culminating aim, framed through reverential acknowledgment of an ideal guide (guru).