Varaha Purana 116.35 — Adhyaya 116, Shloka 35
An Exposition on the Causes of Happiness and Suffering
यस्तु प्राणान्प्रमुच्येत ततः सौख्यतरं नु किम् ॥ लब्धेन चाप्यलब्धेन कुत्सितं कर्म गर्हयन् ॥
yas tu prāṇān pramucyeta tataḥ saukhyataraṃ nu kim | labdhena cāpy alabdhena kutsitaṃ karma garhayan ||
Welches größere Glück könnte es geben als das dessen, der sogar das Leben hinzugeben vermöchte? Er ist es, der verwerfliches Handeln tadelt, ob Gewinn erlangt wurde oder nicht.
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Varāha instructs Bhū (Vasundharā) in nīti: praising moral courage and condemning ignoble acts irrespective of gain."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"What constitutes the highest happiness and nobility in conduct, beyond outcomes like gain or loss?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Censure and avoid kutsitakarma (blameworthy action) whether it yields profit or not; value integrity even above life.","karmic_consequence":"Upholding dharma brings inner sukha and auspicious repute; pursuing blameworthy acts for gain leads to moral fall and demerit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Ethics (nīti) / karma-yoga tone","core_concept":"Right action is to be judged by dharma, not by whether it produces gain; courage to renounce even life for righteousness.","practical_application":"Refuse unethical livelihood and speech; evaluate choices by conscience and śāstric propriety rather than profit."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Vira
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 116.41.0 (sense-restraint and endurance); Varāha Purāṇa 116.43.0 (honoring parents as highest good)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as divine teacher addressing Earth (Vasundharā), emphasizing disdain for ignoble deeds regardless of gain.","item_prompts":["Varāha seated in calm teaching posture","Bhūdevī listening attentively","gesture of instruction (vyākhyāna-mudrā)","scroll or palm-leaf manuscript motif","balanced scales symbolizing dharma vs gain"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: serene Varāha with ornate crown and jewelry, Bhūdevī in traditional attire, warm earthy palette, didactic court-like setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha teacher figure with gold-leaf halo, Bhūdevī at side, symbolic scales and manuscript, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, subdued elegance, Varāha’s calm face, Bhūdevī’s attentive gaze, minimal background with ethical emblems.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate dialogue scene on a terrace, soft hills in background, Varāha instructing, Bhūdevī seated respectfully, lyrical restraint."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Didactic, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"steady, firm, morally emphatic"}
FAQs
It preserves a classical ethical ideal: integrity that does not depend on material success, a theme common across Dharma and nīti corpora.
No geographic location is mentioned in this verse.
Condemn and avoid unethical action regardless of whether one experiences gain or lack of gain.
Ask anything about this verse
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