Varaha Purana 207.4 — Adhyaya 207, Shloka 4

Section on the ‘Person’ who Entices Beings within the Cycle of Rebirth

Devanagari script

अयं तत्र महातेजा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः ॥ धर्मराजसभां प्राप्तस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभः ॥

Transliteration

ayaṃ tatra mahātejā nārado munisattamaḥ || dharmarājasabhāṃ prāptas tapasā dyotitaprabhaḥ

Translation

সেখানে মহাতেজস্বী মুনিশ্রেষ্ঠ নারদ তপোবলে দীপ্ত প্রভা নিয়ে ধর্মরাজের সভায় উপস্থিত হলেন।

Word by Word

• ayam: this (person)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• mahā-tejāḥ: greatly radiant
• mahā-tejāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—महत्तेजाः (very radiant)

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• muni-sattamaḥ: the best of sages
• muni-sattamaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/कर्ता-विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—मुनीनां सत्तमः (best of sages)

• dharma-rāja-sabhām: the court of Dharmarāja (Yama)
• dharma-rāja-sabhām: Karma (कर्म/गमनस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + sabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—धर्मराजस्य सभा (Yama’s court)

• prāptaḥ: having reached/arrived
• prāptaḥ: Kriya (क्रियाविशेष/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively ‘having reached’

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• dyotita-prabhaḥ: whose radiance is shining
• dyotita-prabhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dyotita (प्रातिपदिक; from dyut (धातु) PPP) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहिः—dyotitā prabhā yasya (whose splendor is illumined)

Speaker

Ṛṣiputra (narrator; inferred)

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":false,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"Depicts the moral-juridical arena: Nārada, radiant through tapas, enters Dharmarāja’s assembly—setting for dharma adjudication/teaching.","karmic_consequence":"Implicit: tapas yields tejas and access to higher assemblies; lack of discipline bars such access."}

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":"ethics of tapas and authority","core_concept":"Spiritual authority (tejas) arises from tapas, granting the sage legitimate standing even in the highest moral court.","practical_application":"Cultivate disciplined practice (tapas, restraint, truthfulness) so counsel and judgment carry moral force."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Asceticism","Mythic jurisprudence"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: divine assembly / otherworldly court

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 207.5–207.6 (protocol of reception; dialogue begins)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada, shining with ascetic radiance, enters the grand assembly hall of Dharmarāja, where order and judgment prevail.","item_prompts":["Nārada with vīṇā (iconic attribute)","aura/tejas glow","majestic court hall","Dharmarāja’s throne dais","attendant scribes/record-keepers (Chitragupta motif, if desired)","balanced scales or dharma emblem"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: monumental sabhā with symmetrical pillars, Dharmarāja seated, Nārada entering with vīṇā, strong flat colors, pronounced halo.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf throne and arch behind Dharmarāja, Nārada with jeweled vīṇā, rich reds/greens, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant court interior, subtle glow around Nārada, refined facial expressions, detailed textiles.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: compact court scene with lyrical architecture, Nārada stepping in, delicate linework, emphasis on narrative clarity."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic, otherworldly","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"resonant, awe-tinged"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Nārada Cycle
• Yama/Dharmarāja Traditions

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It situates Nārada—an intertextual messenger figure—within Yama’s juridical setting, illustrating how Purāṇas stage ethical discourse through authoritative visitors.

Which geographic location is identified?

The location is not terrestrial; it is Dharmarāja’s (Yama’s) assembly, a mythic court setting.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Tapas (disciplined practice) is associated with moral-spiritual authority and radiance, legitimizing the narrator’s access to ethical knowledge.