Varaha Purana 4.13: Adhyaya 4, Shloka 13

On Nārāyaṇa’s Ten Avatāras and Eightfold Manifestations, and the Account of King Aśvaśirā

Devanagari script

आसीदश्वशिरा नाम राजा परमधार्मिकः । सोऽश्वमेधेन यज्ञेन यष्ट्वा सुबहुदक्षिणः ॥ ४.१३ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 4.13

Transliteration

āsīd aśvaśirā nāma rājā paramadhārmikaḥ | so ’śvamedhena yajñena yaṣṭvā subahudakṣiṇaḥ || 4.13 ||

Translation

Es gab einen König namens Aśvaśirā, überaus dem Dharma ergeben. Nachdem er das Aśvamedha-Opfer vollzogen hatte, wurde er zu einem, der sehr reichliche Dakṣiṇās (rituelle Gaben) spendete.

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Word by Word

• आसीत्: there was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अश्वशिराः: Aśvaśirā (name of a king)
• अश्वशिराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः अश्व + शिरस् (अश्वस्य शिर इव/अश्वशिरः)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle indicating name)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमधार्मिकः: supremely righteous
• परमधार्मिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमधार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः परम + धार्मिक (अत्यन्तं धार्मिकः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अश्वमेधेन: by the Aśvamedha
• अश्वमेधेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः अश्व + मेध (अश्वस्य मेधः)

• यज्ञेन: by a sacrifice
• यज्ञेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यष्ट्वा: having performed (the sacrifice)
• यष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having sacrificed’

• सुबहुदक्षिणः: one who gave very many fees (donations)
• सुबहुदक्षिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-बहु-दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—सुबह्व्यः दक्षिणाः यस्य सः

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework; not explicit in excerpt)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Studies
• Dharma Traditions
• Vedic Ritual Reception

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a Purāṇic memory of idealized kingship: a ruler characterized by dharma and by public ritual patronage, reflecting how later Sanskrit traditions framed political legitimacy and generosity.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic site is explicitly named in this verse; it functions as narrative setup centered on a king and a major ritual (Aśvamedha).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds two virtues of rulership: commitment to dharma (paramadhārmika) and generosity through sanctioned giving (abundant dakṣiṇā) associated with public rites.