Varaha Purana 16.26: Adhyaya 16, Shloka 26

The Account of Saramā: Indra’s Restoration after Loss of Sovereignty

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तास्तु मरुतो देवेन्द्रेण धराधरे । कथयामासुरव्यग्राः कर्म्म तत् सरमाकृतम् ॥ १६.२६ ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 16.26

Transliteration

evamuktāstu maruto devendreṇa dharādhare | kathayāmāsur avyagrāḥ karmma tat saramākṛtam || 16.26 ||

Translation

So von Devendra (Indra) auf dem erdtragenden Berge angesprochen, begannen die Maruts — nun ohne Unruhe — jene Tat knapp zu schildern, wie sie von Saramā vollbracht worden war.

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Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), manner adverb

• uktāḥ: having been addressed
• uktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of main verb ‘kathayāmāsuḥ’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with marutaḥ

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle

• marutaḥ: the Maruts
• marutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• devendreṇa: by Devendra (Indra)
• devendreṇa: Karana (करण) (agent/instrument in passive sense: ‘by Indra’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: devānām indraḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• dharādhare: on the mountain
• dharādhare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā-dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kathayāmāsuḥ: told/narrated
• kathayāmāsuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (नामधातु from kathā) / kath (धातु) causative usage
• Form: Perfect (लिट्/liṭ), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; denominative/cause-like ‘to narrate/tell’

• avyagrāḥ: unagitated/calm
• avyagrāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with marutaḥ

• karma: deed/action
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with karma

• saramā-kṛtam: done by Saramā
• saramā-kṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saramā + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: saramayā kṛtam (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष) qualifying karma

Speaker

Narrative voice (default dialogue frame: Varāha → Pṛthivī, not explicit in this verse)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"In council, testimony should be clear and concise; collective deliberation (with witnesses) precedes just action.","karmic_consequence":"Proper inquiry supports dharma and reduces wrongful punishment; rash action without hearing leads to injustice and sin."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Procedural dharma (nyāya)","core_concept":"Right action is grounded in hearing, evidence, and measured speech.","practical_application":"Before reacting, gather facts from multiple sources; practice concise, truthful reporting."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Divine Councils/Deva Narratives","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: शान्त (settling into report)

Secondary Rasa: कौतूहल (anticipation)

Geographic Context

Type: mountain / mythic meeting-place

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 16.16.25 (Indra’s demand); Varāha Purāṇa 16.16.27 (Indra’s violent reaction despite counsel)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Maruts, gathered on a mountain ledge, begin recounting events to Indra; the mood is reportorial and composed.","item_prompts":["rocky mountain terrace","Maruts grouped like a council","Indra listening, tense but momentarily still","scroll-like sense of narration (hand gestures)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Layered mountain bands; Maruts in symmetrical cluster; restrained facial expressions; emphasis on hand-mudrā of explanation.","tanjore_prompt":"Ornate mountain platform; gold highlights on crowns/armlets; Indra seated as judge; Maruts in semicircle.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic mountain shading; refined garments; calm, formal council arrangement; subtle tension in Indra’s gaze.","pahari_prompt":"Crisp mountain silhouette; small figures with expressive gestures; airy sky wash; narrative clarity with fine linework."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Measured, explanatory","suggested_raga":"Raga Shuddha Sarang (clear narration)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"even, report-like, controlled"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaishnavism
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic narrative device: after a command or reassurance by a leading deity (here Indra), subordinate deities provide a structured report of an accomplished task, preserving the text’s episodic and archival storytelling style.

Which geographic location is identified?

No named pilgrimage site is specified; the setting is given generically as dharādhara (“mountain,” lit. ‘earth-bearer’), a conventional epic-purāṇic locale rather than a uniquely identifiable place.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes composed speech and orderly testimony—reporting actions ‘in essence’ (sāram) and without agitation (avyagra)—as a philosophical instruction toward clarity, restraint, and accountability in discourse.