Varaha Purana 202.46 — Adhyaya 202, Shloka 46

Description of Infernal Punishments and the Ripening of Karmic Consequences

Devanagari script

धिक्कृतः सर्वलोकेन कूटसाक्ष्यनृतव्रतः ॥ न शर्म लभते क्वापि कर्मणा स्वेन गर्हितः

Transliteration

dhikkṛtaḥ sarvalokena kūṭasākṣy-anṛtavrataḥ || na śarma labhate kvāpi karmaṇā svena garhitaḥ

Translation

Von allen Menschen verurteilt—wer die Lüge zum Gelübde macht und gefälschtes Zeugnis ablegt—findet nirgends Frieden, getadelt durch die eigene Tat.

Word by Word

• dhik-kṛtaḥ: censured, reviled
• dhik-kṛtaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhik (अव्यय) + √kṛ (धातु) → kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘dhik’ as upasarga-like interjection forming ‘censured’ sense

• sarva-lokena: by the whole world
• sarva-lokena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समस्तपद): ‘sarveṇa lokena’; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kūṭa-sākṣya-anṛta-vrataḥ: one whose vow is falsehood and perjured testimony
• kūṭa-sākṣya-anṛta-vrataḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sākṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + anṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Multi-member Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying the subject

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• śarma: happiness, comfort, peace
• śarma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of ‘labhate’

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्/Laṭ), Ātmanepada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• kvāpi: anywhere
• kvāpi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (स्थानवाचक अव्यय) with enclitic ‘api’ = ‘anywhere’

• karmaṇā: by (his) deed
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• svena: by his own
• svena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; reflexive possessive ‘by his own’ modifying ‘karmaṇā’

• garhitaḥ: condemned, blameworthy
• garhitaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √garh (धातु) → garhita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative/qualifying the subject

Speaker

Varāha (default, instructor voice)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"False testimony and habitual lying (kūṭa-sākṣya, anṛta-vrata) bring social condemnation and inner unrest; uphold satya in legal and moral life.","karmic_consequence":"He is reviled by all, finds no peace anywhere, and is continually censured by the momentum of his own deed."}

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":"satya-dharma and moral psychology","core_concept":"Anṛta becomes a ‘vrata’ (habitual vow) that corrodes both society and the self; karma manifests as external blame and internal aśānti (lack of peace).","practical_application":"Practice truthfulness, especially in testimony; avoid perjury; repair harm through confession, restitution, and disciplined speech."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Law (Dharma-śāstra themes)","Karma and retribution"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: Human social institution

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 202 (ethics of speech and legal wrongdoing)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A courtroom-like assembly: a false witness giving forged testimony, surrounded by condemning onlookers; the figure appears sleepless and unpeaceful, shadowed by his own karma.","item_prompts":["assembly hall (sabhā)","raised hand of testimony","scroll/seal indicating forged evidence","crowd pointing/condemning","restless posture, dark shadow behind"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style; frontal sabhā scene with stylized gestures of condemnation; the liar’s face shows anxiety; dharma motif faintly behind.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style; gold-leaf on dharma emblems and sabhā pillars; contrast with the witness’s darkened aura; ornate judicial setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; refined interior architecture; subtle psychological expression of shame and agitation; balanced composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature; intimate sabhā scene with expressive faces; emphasis on social censure and the witness’s isolation."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"judicial, admonishing","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"grave, controlled, morally emphatic"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ethics
• Indic Legal Culture
• Vaishnavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic ethical-legal concern shared with Dharmaśāstra traditions: the social and karmic condemnation of perjury and fraudulent witness.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name appears in this verse; it is framed as a general ethical statement.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Truthful testimony is foundational; falsifying witness brings social censure and inner loss of peace.