Varaha Purana 207.10 — Adhyaya 207, Shloka 10

Section on the ‘Person’ who Entices Beings within the Cycle of Rebirth

Devanagari script

इति धर्मवचः श्रुत्वा नारदः प्राह धर्मवित् ॥ अहं ते कथयिष्यामि यत्पृष्टं संशयास्पदम् ॥

Transliteration

iti dharmavacaḥ śrutvā nāradaḥ prāha dharmavit || ahaṃ te kathayiṣyāmi yatpṛṣṭaṃ saṃśayāspadam ||

Translation

Als Nārada, der Kenner des Dharma, diese Worte über Dharma vernommen hatte, sprach er: „Ich werde dir darlegen, wonach gefragt wurde — jene Sache, die Anlass zum Zweifel gibt.“

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यन्तसूचक अव्यय (quotative/closure particle)

• धर्मवचः: words about dharma
• धर्मवचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मवचस् (प्रातिपदिक: धर्म + वचस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having heard’

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु: ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• धर्मवित्: knower of dharma
• धर्मवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मविद् (प्रातिपदिक: धर्म + विद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (to nāradaḥ)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथयिष्यामि: I will tell
• कथयिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (to pṛṣṭam)

• पृष्टम्: what was asked
• पृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used substantively), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• संशयास्पदम्: a source/seat of doubt
• संशयास्पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशयास्पद (प्रातिपदिक: संशय + आस्पद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (to pṛṣṭam)

Speaker

Nārada

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 (response to a doubt-bearing question; commitment to clarify saṃśaya)."}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

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":"epistemology-of-dharma","core_concept":"Saṃśaya (doubt) is resolved through qualified testimony and reasoned exposition; dharma-knowledge is dialogical and corrective.","practical_application":"When ethical uncertainty arises, articulate the doubt precisely and seek clarification from a dharma-jña; accept correction after attentive listening."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Epistemology (doubt and clarification)","Dialogue"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: jijnasa

Geographic Context

Type: teaching assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Varaha Purana 207.9 (request) → 207.11 (Nārada’s pledge to answer)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada, after hearing dharma-words, promises to explain the questioned point that causes doubt.","item_prompts":["Nārada with vīṇā (iconic attribute) yet in teaching posture","listener(s) attentive, seated respectfully","gesture of assurance (open palm)","a calm sabhā/āśrama backdrop"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Nārada with stylized vīṇā, expressive eyes; teaching gesture; warm palette; decorative borders framing the sabhā.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Nārada central with gold halo; vīṇā embossed; listeners below; rich gold leaf emphasizing the ‘pratijñā’ moment.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant Nārada figure, detailed vīṇā; soft, scholarly ambience; fine ornamentation without excess.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative clarity—Nārada slightly turned toward the questioner; vīṇā slung; gentle hillside/āśrama setting."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"assuring-instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"steady, confident, clarifying"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Pedagogy
• Dharma Discourse

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents the didactic style of Purāṇas: doubt (saṃśaya) is explicitly acknowledged as a legitimate trigger for instruction and clarification.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic reference appears here.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It encourages responsible teaching: questions that involve uncertainty should be addressed with explanation rather than dismissal.