Varaha Purana 172.24 — Adhyaya 172, Shloka 24
The Harm of Destroying a Grove and the Merit of Tree-Planting as Pūrta-Dharma
गोकर्ण उवाच ॥ गोकर्णोऽहं सुचार्वास्यः सुकपोलोऽब्रवीन्मया ॥ पूर्वं दृष्टा भवत्यो वै चार्वाङ्ग्यश्चारुलोचनाः ॥
gokarṇa uvāca || gokarṇo 'haṃ sucārvāsyaḥ sukapolo 'bravīn mayā || pūrvaṃ dṛṣṭā bhavatyo vai cārvāṅgyaś cārulocanāḥ ||
Gokarṇa said: “I am Gokarṇa—one of fair face and handsome cheeks. Indeed, I have seen you before, you who are graceful-limbed and lovely-eyed.”
Gokarṇa
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Poetic-ethical speech","core_concept":"Saumya-vāk (gentle speech) and pūrva-smṛti (remembering prior relations) can restore trust in tense encounters.","practical_application":"Use respectful self-identification and kind, non-threatening language to de-escalate and open truthful dialogue."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Literary Motifs"]
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: None
Related Themes: Builds on the collective inquiry of v.25; leads to the women’s explanation in v.28
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Gokarṇa introduces himself, with composed demeanor, addressing the women with courteous, poetic epithets, suggesting prior acquaintance.","item_prompts":["Gokarṇa with serene face","hand to chest (self-identification)","women with attentive gaze","subtle aura of recognition","simple ornaments/garlands"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal Gokarṇa with gentle smile, stylized facial features, women in graceful poses, floral motifs framing the scene.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: Gokarṇa with halo and gold detailing, women in rich saris, emphasis on ornament and epithets through visual elegance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: nuanced facial expressions, delicate jewelry, soft interior setting, emphasis on refined speech mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical composition with flowing garments, light floral background, intimate conversational spacing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"gentle-introductory","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"soft, reassuring"}
FAQs
It exemplifies formulaic speaker-markers (uvāca) and descriptive epithets used to aid oral-aural reception and mnemonic transmission in Purāṇic literature.
No geographic location is specified here; the verse establishes interpersonal recognition.
The verse models respectful address and recognition, setting a non-hostile tone for subsequent explanation.
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