Varaha Purana 39.71: Adhyaya 39, Shloka 71

Discrimination of the Three Bodies and the Dharaṇī Vow: A Manual for Dvādaśī Observance

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मक्रियाया लोभेन बहुवर्षकृतेन च । उपोष्येमां सकृद् भक्त्या वेदसंस्कारमाप्नुयात् ॥ ३९.७१ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 39.71

Transliteration

brahmakriyāyā lobhena bahuvarṣakṛtena ca | upoṣyemāṃ sakṛd bhaktyā vedasaṃskāram āpnuyāt || 39.71 ||

Translation

Through greed and the long-standing neglect of the brahma-rites over many years, one should—having fasted for this observance even once with devotion—attain the Veda-associated consecratory purification (saṃskāra).

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Word by Word

• ब्रह्मक्रियायाः: of the Brahma-rite / Vedic rite
• ब्रह्मक्रियायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मक्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्म + क्रिया (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• लोभेन: by desire/greed
• लोभेन: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• बहुवर्षकृतेन: done for many years / long-performed
• बहुवर्षकृतेन: विशेषण (Adjectival to लोभेन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुवर्षकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लोभेन इत्यस्य सह); समासः—बहूनि वर्षाणि + कृत (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive—prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपवस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘उपवासं कृत्वा’

• इमाम्: this (rite/observance)
• इमाम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्तिबोधक-अव्यय (adverb: once)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वेदसंस्कारम्: Vedic consecration/purificatory rite
• वेदसंस्कारम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदसंस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—वेदस्य संस्कारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• आप्नुयात्: may obtain
• आप्नुयात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaishnavism
• Dharma-śāstra Interface

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic mode of integrating Vedic disciplinary ideals (brahmakriyā) with accessible remedial practices (a single devotional fast), illustrating how later Sanskrit traditions framed continuity with Vedic culture while addressing lapses over time.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; the focus is on personal observance and ritual-ethical restoration rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse presents a corrective principle: even prolonged neglect of prescribed disciplines can be addressed through a sincere, focused observance—here, a one-time devotional fast—aimed at restoring Vedic-oriented refinement (saṃskāra).