Varaha Purana 128.89: Adhyaya 128, Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

उत्तमाष्टाधिकशतं पञ्चाशत्तुर्यमध्यमाः ॥ तदर्धं स्यात्कनिष्ठापि परिमाणेन सुन्दरी ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 128.89

Transliteration

uttamāṣṭādhikaśataṃ pañcāśatturyamadhyamāḥ || tadardhaṃ syāt kaniṣṭhāpi parimāṇena sundarī ||

Translation

Das höchste Maß ist hundertacht; das mittlere beträgt fünfzig und drei Viertel. Das niedrigste, o Schöne, ist die Hälfte davon, gemäß dem festgesetzten Maß.

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Word by Word

• uttama-aṣṭa-adhika-śatam: one hundred and eight (108)
• uttama-aṣṭa-adhika-śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); संख्यावाचक-समासः (numerical expression)

• pañcāśat: fifty (50)
• pañcāśat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); संख्यावाचक

• turya-madhyamāḥ: the middling (measure) as the fourth (i.e., 54)
• turya-madhyamāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: turya (प्रातिपदिक) + madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण—‘मध्यमाः’ (the middling ones) qualified as ‘fourth’

• tat-ardham: half of that
• tat-ardham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य अर्धम्’

• syāt: should be / would be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kaniṣṭhā: the lowest (measure)
• kaniṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaniṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेष्य-लोपे विशेषण-प्रयोगः (adjectival used substantively)

• api: also / even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• parimāṇena: by measure / in measurement
• parimāṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parimāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sundarī: O beautiful one
• sundarī: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sundarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Varāha (instructor; implied)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ritual
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Mantra and Observance

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a traditional hierarchy of ritual quantities, reflecting how Purāṇic texts transmit standardized measures alongside narrative instruction.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it concerns proportional measures.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes disciplined adherence to established standards (parimāṇa) in practice, rather than improvisation.