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Varaha Purana 171.52: Adhyaya 171, Shloka 52

Śuka’s Ocean Voyage: Adverse Winds, Arrival at a Viṣṇu Shrine, and Aid from the Jaṭāyu Birds

अस्माकं जीवनार्थाय त्वया कार्यं विहङ्गम ॥ कथाभिरनुकूलाभिर्धर्मदर्शिभिरेव च ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 171.52

asmākaṃ jīvanārthāya tvayā kāryaṃ vihaṅgama || kathābhir anukūlābhir dharmadarśibhir eva ca ||

„Um unseres Lebens willen musst du handeln, o Vogel — durch förderliche Unterweisungen und auch durch jene, die das Dharma erkennen.“

asmākamof us, our
asmākam:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), बहुवचन (plural)
jīvana-arthāyafor (our) livelihood/survival
jīvana-arthāya:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
TypeNoun
Rootjīvana (जीवन प्रातिपदिक) + artha (अर्थ प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जीवनस्य अर्थः’ → ‘जीवनार्थ’
tvayāby you
tvayā:
Karta (कर्ता/agent)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन
kāryama task, what must be done
kāryam:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Rootkārya (कार्य प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ + यत्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कार्यं’ = ‘what is to be done / task’
vihaṅgamaO bird
vihaṅgama:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootvihaṅgama (विहङ्गम प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन
kathābhiḥwith stories
kathābhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootkathā (कथा प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन
anukūlābhiḥfavorable, agreeable
anukūlābhiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootanukūla (अनुकूल प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कथाभिः’)
dharma-darśibhiḥrighteous, dharma-seeing
dharma-darśibhiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdharma (धर्म प्रातिपदिक) + darśin (दर्शिन् प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘धर्मं पश्यन्ति’/‘धर्मस्य दर्शिनः’ = ‘righteous/seeing dharma’; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कथाभिः’)
evaindeed, only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (अवधारण/emphatic particle)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (conjunction)

Narrator (default dialogue frame: Varāha–Pṛthivī; speaker not explicit in fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","key_question":"What action should be undertaken for our survival—through what supportive discourse and through which dharma-seeing persons?"}

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Dharma-upadeśa as remedy: sustain life and social order by seeking/using anukūla-kathā (supportive instruction) from dharma-darśins (wise discerners).","karmic_consequence":"Turning to dharmic counsel reduces despair and leads to right action (puṇya); rejecting wise counsel prolongs suffering and invites adharma."}

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma pedagogy","core_concept":"Śāstra-kathā and sat-saṅga (company of dharma-seers) function as practical medicine for crisis.","practical_application":"In grief or instability, seek competent ethical guidance; use constructive narratives and instruction to restore agency and right conduct."}

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Heritage Sites"]

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Type: didactic/social setting

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 171.58 (Śuka’s learned consolatory discourse)

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An appeal addressed to a bird: ‘Act for our living—through supportive discourse and by dharma-seeing sages.’","item_prompts":["speaker addressing a bird","gesture of supplication/instruction","presence of sages/wise elders implied","scrolls or palm-leaf manuscripts as symbols of kathā/vidyā"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: didactic tableau with a green bird near a seated elder, stylized manuscripts, calm authoritative mudrā.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-backed teacher figure, bird attentive, miniature sages in background, ornate manuscript bundle.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: classroom-like intimacy, fine facial expressions, subtle props (palm leaves), emphasis on counsel.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: gentle hillside pavilion scene, bird perched near speaker, a few ascetics nearby, lyrical calm after sorrow."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"advisory, steadying","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"firm, reassuring"}

C
Classical Literature
D
Didactic Narrative
D
Dharma Discourse
P
Purāṇic Storytelling

FAQs

It highlights the Purāṇic valuation of kathā (narrative discourse) as a social-ethical instrument, aligning persuasion and counsel with dharma.

No location is named in this verse.

Use dharma-aligned, supportive speech and counsel to sustain community wellbeing.

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