Varaha Purana 64.4 — Adhyaya 64, Shloka 4

Procedure for the Vow that Cultivates Valor

Durgā Navamī Observance

Devanagari script

एवं संवत्सरं यावदुपोष्येति विधानतः । व्रतान्ते भोजयेद्धीमान् यथाशक्त्या कुमारिकाः ॥ ६४.४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ yāvad upoṣyeti vidhānataḥ | vratānte bhojayed dhīmān yathāśaktyā kumārikāḥ || 64.4 ||

Translation

So soll man, gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung, bis zu einem Jahr fasten. Am Ende des Gelübdes soll der Weise nach Kräften junge unverheiratete Mädchen (kumārīs) bewirten.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; कालावधि-निर्देशे (duration)

• यावत्: as long as / up to
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-अव्यय (until/as long as)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपवस् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘उपोष्य’ = उपवासं कृत्वा/उपवस्य

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed rule
• विधानतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘विधानतः’ = विधानेन/विधानानुसारम्

• व्रतान्ते: at the end of the vow
• व्रतान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: व्रतस्य अन्तः

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Vidhi (विधेय/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिचर्थ-प्रयोग (to cause to eat)

• धीमान्: the wise person
• धीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (the wise one)

• यथाशक्त्या: according to one’s ability
• यथाशक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; समस्तपदम् अव्ययवत्; अर्थः ‘शक्त्यानुसारम्’; अन्ते तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपम् (शक्ति-शब्दस्य)

• कुमारिकाः: young girls/maidens
• कुमारिकाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

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":false,"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":"dana","instruction_summary":"Observe the fast according to procedure for a year; at the vow’s end, feed kumārikās according to one’s means.","karmic_consequence":"Proper completion yields the vow’s promised merit; failure to conclude with prescribed feeding diminishes/obstructs the fruit."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Annual upavāsa-vrata with kumārikā-bhojana at conclusion (name not specified in excerpt)","tithi_month":"Observed for one year (specific tithi/month not specified here)","promised_fruit":"General vrata-siddhi; accrual of puṇya through disciplined fasting and compassionate giving."}

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":"dharma (vrata as self-regulation)","core_concept":"Vrata is not only abstinence (upavāsa) but also positive dharma—nourishing others at the end.","practical_application":"Plan observances with a feasible capacity for concluding dāna/bhojana; align austerity with compassion."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇā

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 64.64.3 (Navamī worship and brāhmaṇa-bhojana); Varāha Purāṇa 64.64.5 (adornment and kṣamā-yācñā)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A year-long vow’s conclusion: the patron arranges a meal for young unmarried girls, offering respectful service and food in a clean ritual space.","item_prompts":["group of kumārikās seated for meal","serving vessels, water pot, clean cloths","patron offering food with humility","simple altar indicating vrata completion"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette; symmetrical seating of kumārikās; patron in devotional posture; ritual cleanliness emphasized with bright floor patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold accents on vessels and ornaments; kumārikās in festive attire; patron presenting offerings; ornate border motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore finesse: gentle expressions, detailed saree borders; soft interior lighting; calm concluding-rite atmosphere.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari courtyard scene with patterned rugs; kumārikās in colorful garments; minimal shrine element; narrative clarity."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, calm","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"measured, guiding"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dharma
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic pattern in which personal austerity (upavāsa/vrata) is ritually completed through a socially oriented act—feeding others—indicating the integration of ascetic discipline with household ethics in medieval Sanskrit dharma literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name appears in this verse; it is a general procedural instruction for concluding a vow.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes that disciplined observance should culminate in compassionate giving: one should provide food to others—here specified as kumārikās—within one’s means (yathāśaktyā), underscoring proportional responsibility rather than excess.