Varaha Purana 201.52 — Adhyaya 201, Shloka 52
The Battle between the Rākṣasas and Yama’s Attendant-Messengers
स्वकर्मगुणभूतानि ह्यशुभानि शुभानि च ॥ रुद्रं दूताः समागम्य चित्रगुप्तस्य पार्श्वतः ॥
svakarmaguṇabhūtāni hy aśubhāni śubhāni ca || rudraṃ dūtāḥ samāgamya citraguptasya pārśvataḥ ||
Wahrlich sind die Taten zu bedenken, die als Eigenschaften aus dem eigenen Karma hervorgehen, unheilvoll wie heilvoll. Die Boten traten zu Rudra heran und standen an Citraguptas Seite.
Varāha (default speaker framework; explicit speaker not stated in excerpt)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Auspicious and inauspicious outcomes are constituted by one’s own action-born qualities (svakarma-guṇa); the agents report within a hierarchy (Citragupta–Rudra).","karmic_consequence":"Since fruits follow one’s own guṇa-formed karma, self-discipline and right conduct directly shape future experience."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"guna-karma linkage","core_concept":"Deeds crystallize into dispositions (guṇas) that carry auspicious/inauspicious potency; moral psychology is karmically consequential.","practical_application":"Train character: repeated dharmic actions build sattvic tendencies; avoid patterns that harden into harmful traits."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Cosmology"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: divine/otherworldly council space
Related Themes: Varaha Purana: continuation of Citragupta/Yama-duta administrative narrative (ch. 201)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Yama’s messengers stand beside Citragupta and approach Rudra, acknowledging that deeds become auspicious/inauspicious qualities.","item_prompts":["Rudra (austere, ash-smeared, trident)","Citragupta with ledger","messengers in attendance posture","two symbolic streams: bright (shubha) and dark (ashubha)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Rudra at one side with trishula, Citragupta seated; dutas between; symbolic light/dark bands behind representing shubha/ashubha.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Rudra with gold halo and trident; Citragupta with ornate ledger; dutas with jeweled weapons; contrasting gold vs dark enamel for merit/demerit.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined Rudra visage, gentle shading; Citragupta writing; subtle dual-color aura indicating auspicious/inauspicious qualities.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: compact court scene; Rudra slightly elevated; Citragupta below; dutas lined; stylized white/black motifs for shubha/ashubha."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"measured, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"didactic, steady"}
FAQs
It captures a doctrinal vocabulary where actions crystallize into enduring qualities (guṇa), a conceptual bridge between narrative theology and ethical psychology.
No location is named; the setting is an administrative/cosmic court-like context.
The ethical framing is evaluative duality—actions are classified as śubha/aśubha, implying discernment and moral consequence.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.