Varaha Purana 199.12 — Adhyaya 199, Shloka 12

Description of the Torments of Rebirth: The Asipatravana Punishment and the Mechanics of Karmic Retribution

Devanagari script

मातृष्वसा ते दुर्बुद्धे मातुलानी पितृष्वसा ॥ गुरुभार्या मित्रभार्या भ्रातृभार्या नृपस्य च

Transliteration

mātṛṣvasā te durbuddhe mātulānī pitṛṣvasā || gurubhāryā mitrabhāryā bhrātṛbhāryā nṛpasya ca

Translation

„Ich bin deine Tante mütterlicherseits, du von bösem Sinn; die Frau deines Onkels mütterlicherseits; deine Tante väterlicherseits; die Gattin deines Lehrers; die Gattin deines Freundes; die Gattin deines Bruders—und auch die Gattin des Königs.“

Word by Word

• mātṛ-ṣvasā: maternal aunt
• mātṛ-ṣvasā: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣvasṛ/ṣvasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; tatpuruṣa 'mother's sister' (मातुः स्वसा)

• te: your/of you
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th), Singular

• durbuddhe: O foolish one
• durbuddhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; karmadhāraya 'one of bad intellect' (address)

• mātulānī: wife of maternal uncle
• mātulānī: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक) + -ānī (स्त्रीप्रत्यय)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'maternal uncle's wife'

• pitṛ-ṣvasā: paternal aunt
• pitṛ-ṣvasā: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣvasṛ/ṣvasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'father's sister' (पितुः स्वसा)

• guru-bhāryā: teacher's wife
• guru-bhāryā: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'teacher's wife'

• mitra-bhāryā: friend's wife
• mitra-bhāryā: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'friend's wife'

• bhrātṛ-bhāryā: brother's wife
• bhrātṛ-bhāryā: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'brother's wife'

• nṛpasya: of the king
• nṛpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Speaker

Varāha

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":true,"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":"None","instruction_summary":"A catalog of ‘agamya’ (forbidden/protected women)—aunts, uncle’s wife, teacher’s wife, friend’s wife, brother’s wife, and the king’s wife—signals grave adharma in violating social guardianship.","karmic_consequence":"Severe, compounding demerit (mahāpātaka-like gravity) leading to prolonged naraka suffering and social-spiritual ruin."}

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":"ethics of trust (viśvāsa)","core_concept":"Adharma is betrayal: violating those protected by kinship, friendship, teaching lineage, and sovereignty destroys the moral fabric.","practical_application":"Guard relationships with fidelity; treat guru-kula, friendship, and civic order as sacred obligations."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Social Conduct"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: infernal court-of-accusation (narrative)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varaha Purana 199.12-14 (accusation list culminating in brahmin wives)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The pursuer enumerates multiple kinship and authority relations, each name like a blow; the sinner appears increasingly cornered as the list expands.","item_prompts":["accusatory figure with counting gesture","multiple symbolic silhouettes (aunt/guru/king) behind her","cornered fleeing man","infernal glow"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: use hand-gestures to ‘count’ relations; faint background vignettes for guru, king, family; strong reds and blacks; theatrical expression.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornamental framing with small medallions depicting guru, king, family; gold accents on authority symbols (crown, staff); central accusatory figure dominant.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: detailed secondary figures in soft focus; emphasis on narrative sequencing; refined linework for gestures and ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: compartmentalized miniature panels or cloud-like vignettes for each relation; delicate palette with stark infernal reds for the main scene."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"indicting, relentless","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium-fast (list-like)","voice_tone":"firm, enumerative"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ethics
• Dharmaśāstra Parallels
• Kinship Terminology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The catalog of prohibited relations mirrors normative kinship ethics found across classical Indian legal and ethical literature, showing how Purāṇas transmit social norms through narrative.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is identified.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It underscores the importance of respecting kinship and social-protective boundaries, presenting violations as ethically grave within the text’s moral universe.