Varaha Purana 128.8 — Adhyaya 128, Shloka 8

Rites for the comb, collyrium, and mirror; initiations for the four social orders; and the Gaṇāntikā vow/insignia

Devanagari script

मन्त्रः—त्यक्तानि विष्णो शस्त्राणि त्यक्तं सर्वं क्षत्रियकर्म सर्वम्॥ त्यक्त्वा देवं विष्णुं प्रपन्नोऽथ संसाराद्वै जन्मनां तारयस्व॥

Transliteration

mantraḥ—tyaktāni viṣṇo śastrāṇi tyaktaṃ sarvaṃ kṣatriyakarma sarvam | tyaktvā devaṃ viṣṇuṃ prapanno 'tha saṃsārād vai janmanāṃ tārayasva ||

Translation

Mantra: „O Viṣṇu, die Waffen sind beiseitegelegt; alle Pflichten des Kṣatriya sind aufgegeben. Indem ich jede andere Stütze aufgebe und beim Gott Viṣṇu Zuflucht nehme, erlöse mich nun aus dem Saṃsāra, aus dem Kreislauf der Geburten.“

Word by Word

• mantraḥ: mantra

• tyaktāni: abandoned/set aside

• viṣṇo: O Viṣṇu

• śastrāṇi: weapons

• tyaktam: relinquished

• sarvam: all

• kṣatriya-karma: kṣatriya duties/acts

• tyaktvā: having abandoned

• devam: the god

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu

• prapannaḥ: one who has taken refuge

• atha: now/then

• saṃsārāt: from saṃsāra

• vai: indeed

• janmanām: of births

• tārayasva: deliver (imperative)

Speaker

Varāha (mantra to be recited by the initiate)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"devotee","bhu_devi_state":"seeking-release","key_question":"How does a kṣatriya, laying down weapons and duty, take refuge in Viṣṇu for deliverance from saṃsāra?"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"varnashrama","instruction_summary":"The initiate verbally renounces weapons and kṣatriya-karmas and declares exclusive refuge in Viṣṇu, praying for liberation from rebirth.","karmic_consequence":"Sincere śaraṇāgati redirects life from violence/role-bound action toward mokṣa-oriented devotion; insincere or performative renunciation yields little fruit and may intensify inner conflict/adharma."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The mantra enacts the transition from kṣatra (force) to nārāyaṇa-śaraṇatva (refuge): the ‘boar’ who lifts Earth also lifts the bound jīva from the mire of births.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"‘Setting aside weapons’ parallels laying down external instruments and offering them into the inner yajña; the true ‘weapon’ becomes mantra and surrender.","vedantic_connection":"Prapatti theology: liberation is sought not by personal prowess but by reliance on Viṣṇu’s grace; karma is subordinated to mokṣa-intent and bhakti."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"mokṣa-śāstra / prapatti","core_concept":"Deliverance from saṃsāra comes through exclusive refuge in Viṣṇu, not through worldly role or force.","practical_application":"Translate ‘laying down weapons’ into daily life: reduce harm, relinquish compulsive control, and anchor decisions in devotion and non-injury."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Mantra","Initiation (Dīkṣā)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: mantra-utterance locus (initiation moment)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 128.7 (pāda-grahaṇa before mantra); Varāha Purāṇa 128.9 (recitation posture and sequence)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The initiate, hands folded after touching the feet, recites a solemn mantra; weapons (sword/bow) are placed aside, symbolizing renunciation, while Varāha presides as Viṣṇu.","item_prompts":["set-aside weapons on cloth","initiate in prayer posture","Varāha with calm, protective stance","mantra-scroll or priest prompting","altar fire or lamp","aura/halo suggesting refuge"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic yet serene; weapons placed at edge; Varāha as compassionate protector; deep colors, ritual lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold halo around Varāha; richly ornamented deity; weapons rendered as offerings; embossed gold for sacred radiance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition; refined facial emotion of yearning; soft illumination; detailed metalwork of weapons set down.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: poetic renunciation scene; minimal props; emphasis on gesture and expression; gentle background wash."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"supplicatory and grave","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow, with weight on ‘prapannaḥ’ and ‘tārayasva’","voice_tone":"deep, pleading, controlled"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Renunciation Motifs
• Mantra Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It is evidence for the presence of refuge-oriented (prapatti) devotional idiom in Purāṇic ritual contexts, linking social role-transformation with liberation language.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned; the focus is existential (saṃsāra, birth-cycle) rather than topographical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The mantra articulates a transition from role-based violence/obligation toward self-restraint and refuge in a higher moral-spiritual commitment, framed as a liberation-seeking orientation.