Varaha Purana 14.2 — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 2

Ritual Procedure for Śrāddha: Sequence, Eligibility, and Offerings to Ancestors

Devanagari script

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिमधुस्त्रिसुपर्णः षडङ्गवित् । वेदवित् श्रोत्रियो योगी तथा वै ज्योष्ठसामगः ॥ १४.२ ॥

Transliteration

triṇāciketas trimadhus trisuparṇaḥ ṣaḍaṅgavit | vedavit śrotriyo yogī tathā vai jyoṣṭhasāmagaḥ || 14.2 ||

Translation

Er ist einer, der das dreifache Nāciketa-Ritual, die Lehren der „drei Madhu“ und die Rezitationen der „drei Suparṇa“ gemeistert hat; er kennt die sechs vedischen Hilfsdisziplinen, ist Kenner der Veden, ein rechtmäßig ausgebildeter Śrotriya, ein Yogin und wahrlich ein hervorragender Sänger der Sāman-Hymnen.

Word by Word

• त्रिणाचिकेतः: one who has performed the three Nāciketa rites / ‘tri-nāciketa’
• त्रिणाचिकेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + नाचिकेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रयः नाचिकेतसः/त्रिणाचिकेतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिमधुः: one connected with the three ‘madhu’ (threefold honey/three Madhu hymns)
• त्रिमधुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रिसुपर्णः: ‘tri-suparṇa’ (knower/reciter of the Trisuparṇa)
• त्रिसुपर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• षडङ्गवित्: knower of the six Vedāṅgas
• षडङ्गवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; -वित्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षडङ्गानि वेदाङ्गानि; तानि वेत्ति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेदवित्: knower of the Veda
• वेदवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; -वित्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेदं वेत्ति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोत्रियः: a learned Vedic scholar (śrotriya)
• श्रोत्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योगी: yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• ज्योष्ठसामगः: chanter of the Jyeṣṭha-sāman
• ज्योष्ठसामगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ + सामग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्येष्ठं साम गायत इति/ज्येष्ठसाम); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework; explicit speaker not stated in fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context

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

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","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":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"Śrāddha-adhikāra is supported by Vedic mastery: one fit to be honored/engaged is a śrotriya who knows Veda, Vedāṅgas, and disciplined recitation (esp. Sāman).","karmic_consequence":"Honoring/engaging such qualified Brāhmaṇas stabilizes the rite and yields reliable pitṛ-satisfaction; neglecting qualification risks fruitlessness (aphala) or diminished merit."}

Vrata Mahatmya

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

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":"epistemic-ethical qualification (adhikāra)","core_concept":"Authority in dharma arises from śruti-knowledge joined with yogic discipline and correct recitation.","practical_application":"When selecting priests/reciters or recipients of honor/dāna, prefer those grounded in Veda, Vedāṅgas, and disciplined practice rather than mere social status."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Vedic Studies","Education and Lineage","Ethics","Ritual and Recitation"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-educational setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 14.14.3-6 (lists of persons to honor/avoid in śrāddha context)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as dharma-instructor enumerates the marks of an ideal śrotriya: Vedic fires implied, palm-leaf manuscripts, and Sāman-chanting posture.","item_prompts":["Varāha seated in teaching pose","Brahmin student with yajñopavīta","palm-leaf manuscripts (tāḍapatra)","śrauta fire-altar suggestion (vedi)","Sāman singer with vīṇā/tāla (optional, symbolic)","six Vedāṅga icons (stylized)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Varāha with calm teaching mudrā, warm earthy palette, stylized manuscripts and vedi, śānta bhāva.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha teacher with ornate arch, gold-leaf highlights on manuscripts and ritual vessels, serene faces.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined linework, subdued colors, Varāha instructing a śrotriya, detailed textiles and sacred thread.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: hillside āśrama setting, Varāha teaching a small group, delicate expressions, minimal ritual props."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic and contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"clear, authoritative, measured"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Sanskrit
• Vedic Tradition
• Intellectual History

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It catalogs markers of elite Vedic learning—ritual competence, mastery of recitational corpora, Vedāṅga scholarship, and Sāman chanting—reflecting how Purāṇic texts preserve and reframe older Vedic educational ideals.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it functions as a descriptive list of scholarly/ritual qualifications rather than a sacred-geography notice.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds disciplined learning and integrity of transmission—valuing trained study (śrotriya), comprehensive knowledge (veda-vit, ṣaḍaṅgavit), and contemplative discipline (yogī) as cultural standards for authoritative teaching.