Varaha Purana 134.63 — Adhyaya 134, Shloka 63

Expiations for Ritual and Temporal Offences in Worship, and the Prescribed Purificatory Procedure

Upaspṛśya

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तं महाभागे येन शुध्यन्ति मानवाः ॥ एकाहारं ततः कृत्वा मासमेकं वरानने ॥

Transliteration

prāyaścittaṃ mahābhāge yena śudhyanti mānavāḥ | ekāhāraṃ tataḥ kṛtvā māsam ekaṃ varānane ||

Translation

O Hochbegnadete, die Sühne (prāyaścitta), durch die Menschen gereinigt werden, ist diese: nachdem man sich dann auf eine einzige Mahlzeit am Tag beschränkt hat, einen Monat lang, o Schönantlitzige—

Word by Word

• prāyaścittam: expiation/penance

• mahābhāge: O greatly fortunate lady

• yena: by which

• śudhyanti: become purified

• mānavāḥ: humans

• ekāhāram: one-meal regimen

• tataḥ: then

• kṛtvā: having done/undertaken

• māsam: for a month

• ekam: one

• varānane: O beautiful-faced one

Speaker

Varāha (explicitly continuing from 134.68)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Instructs Bhū-devī on a concrete prāyaścitta regimen (discipline of diet)"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"None","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":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"For purification, undertake a prāyaścitta involving regulated diet: ekāhāra (single meal a day) for one month as part of the expiatory discipline.","karmic_consequence":"Observing the regimen purifies (śuddhi) and removes sin-faults; neglecting expiation leaves the doṣa operative and blocks higher fruits."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Prāyaścitta-vrata of Ekāhāra (one-meal discipline)","tithi_month":"One month duration (māsa), not tied to a specific tithi in this verse","promised_fruit":"Purification of the practitioner (śuddhi) enabling restoration of dharmic merit and eligibility for higher spiritual attainments."}

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":"tapas as moral-psychological purification","core_concept":"Self-restraint (niyama) and measured consumption cleanse karmic residue and stabilize the mind for righteous action.","practical_application":"Adopt time-bound dietary restraint as expiation after ritual/ethical lapses, paired with mindful conduct and renewed adherence to dharma."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: vīra

Geographic Context

Type: normative dharma instruction (unspecified locale)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 134.71-72 (further dietary steps and फल: reaching the Lord’s world)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha enumerates the expiation: a month-long one-meal discipline, conveying structured ascetic practice rather than dramatic action.","item_prompts":["Varāha counting/indicating duration with fingers or palm gesture","a simple meal bowl/leaf-plate symbolizing ekāhāra","Bhū-devī listening attentively","a calm, ascetic setting (simple mat, water pot)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: restrained composition; Varāha instructing; minimal props—water pot, leaf-plate; earthy tones emphasizing austerity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotional grandeur but with ascetic symbols (simple bowl) contrasted against gold halo; clear iconographic teaching scene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant, quiet courtly-ascetic blend; fine detailing on vessels and textiles; subdued mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: hermitage-like simplicity; small utensils; narrative clarity with gentle colors."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"austere, instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"firm, measured, contemplative"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ascetic Practice
• Dharma-śāstra (penance)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a standardized ascetic-ethical regimen (dietary restriction) typical of prāyaścitta systems shared across Purāṇic and Dharmaśāstra traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic reference occurs in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Self-regulation through disciplined consumption is presented as a means of purification and moral restoration.