Varaha Purana 121.22: Adhyaya 121, Shloka 22

Avoidance of Rebirth in the Womb: Ethical Conduct and the Prevention of Degraded Rebirth

Devanagari script

मनसा ब्राह्मणीं चैव यो गच्छेन्न कदाचन ॥ विप्राय कपिलां दद्याद्वृद्धवं सान्त्वेन पालयेत् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 121.22

Transliteration

manasā brāhmaṇīṁ caiva yo gacchen na kadācana || viprāya kapilāṁ dadyād vṛddhavaṁ sāntvena pālayet

Translation

Und wer sich niemals einer Brahmanenfrau nähert, nicht einmal im Gedanken—der soll einem gelehrten Priester eine fahl-rotbraune Kuh (kapilā) schenken und die Alten mit sanftem Zuspruch und Fürsorge unterstützen.

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Word by Word

• manasā: by mind / mentally
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन

• brāhmaṇīm: a brāhmaṇa woman
• brāhmaṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (particle: indeed/just)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gacchet: should go (to)
• gacchet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• kadācana: ever
• kadācana: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ever/at any time)

• viprāya: to a brāhmaṇa
• viprāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (dative), एकवचन

• kapilām: a tawny cow
• kapilām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vṛddhavam: or (if) an elder...
• vṛddhavam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vā (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-प्रायः)
• Form: पाठभेद/सन्धि-संशयः: ‘वृद्धं वा’ (vṛddham vā) इति सम्भाव्यते; ‘वा’ विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• sāntvena: with consolation/soothing words
• sāntvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन

• pālayet: should protect/care for
• pālayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Dharma-śāstra Influence
• Dāna (Gifting)
• Social Welfare Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It combines inner discipline (mental restraint) with outward social duties (dāna and elder care), a pattern typical of Purāṇic moral instruction.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Maintain strict mental restraint and express dharma through gifting and compassionate support of elders.