Varaha Purana 116.14 — Adhyaya 116, Shloka 14

An Exposition on the Causes of Happiness and Suffering

Devanagari script

मृत्युकालवशं प्राप्तस्ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥ हस्त्यश्व रथयानानि गम्यमानानि पश्यति

Transliteration

mṛtyukālavaśaṃ prāptas tato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim || hasty-aśva-ratha-yānāni gamyamānāni paśyati

Translation

মৃত্যুৰ সময়ৰ বশত পৰি গ’ল—ইয়াতকৈ অধিক দুখদায়ক আৰু কি হ’ব পাৰে? তেওঁ হাতী, ঘোঁৰা আৰু ৰথ চলি যোৱা দেখিছে, কিন্তু নিজে অসহায়।

Word by Word

• मृत्यु-काल-वशम्: the control/power of the time of death
• मृत्यु-काल-वशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मृत्यु-कालस्य वशः)

• प्राप्तः: having reached / having come under
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्राप्त’ = having reached/attained

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• दुःखतरम्: more painful / more sorrowful
• दुःखतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीय-तुलनात्मक (comparative) विशेषण

• नु: indeed? / then?
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; interrogative/emphatic)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• हस्ति-अश्व-रथ-यानानि: elephants, horses, chariots, and vehicles
• हस्ति-अश्व-रथ-यानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समासः

• गम्यमानानि: being driven / moving along
• गम्यमानानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्/मान-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे; passive present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘being gone/being driven’

• पश्यति: he sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default, instructional voice)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Remember mortality: at death-time one becomes powerless, merely witnessing worldly processions and possessions; therefore act righteously before that time arrives.","karmic_consequence":"If one delays dharma, death brings helpless regret and forfeiture of agency; timely dharma yields steadiness at death and better gati."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"maraṇa-smṛti (death-awareness)","core_concept":"At the moment of death, external supports (vehicles, wealth, status) are irrelevant; only cultivated dharma/bhakti matters.","practical_application":"Practice daily remembrance of impermanence; prioritize dāna, hospitality, restraint, and devotion now; reduce attachment to display and conveyances."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Karma","Human Condition"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuṇa

Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka

Geographic Context

Type: liminal scene (life-to-death threshold)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 116.11–116.14 (householder failures leading to duḥkha)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dying person lies powerless while a grand procession of elephants, horses, and chariots passes outside—symbolizing worldly pomp continuing indifferent to individual death.","item_prompts":["bedridden/dying figure","window/doorway view","elephants and horses in procession","chariots with banners","contrast of still interior vs moving exterior"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Dramatic contrast: dark interior with the dying figure; bright stylized procession outside; rhythmic movement lines; moral allegory tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Procession rendered with gold-leaf splendor; dying figure subdued; strong contrast to show futility of opulence at death.","mysore_prompt":"Classical realism: soft light through doorway; detailed animals/vehicles; poignant facial expression of helpless witnessing.","pahari_prompt":"Narrative hillside street with procession; intimate interior corner with the dying; delicate colors emphasizing poignancy and impermanence."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"somber, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"low, steady, elegiac"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Moral Philosophy

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic didactic style: vivid social imagery is used to underscore impermanence and the vulnerability of embodied life.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; the imagery is general (vehicles and travel) rather than site-specific.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To recognize the inevitability of death and the resulting helplessness, encouraging reflective conduct rather than attachment to worldly display and movement.