Varaha Purana - Adhyaya 130
Varaha PuranaAdhyaya 13024 Shlokas

Adhyaya 130: Expiation and Dietary Discipline Concerning the Consumption of Royal Food (rājānna)

Rājānna-bhojane Prāyaścitta-vidhiḥ

Ritual-Manual / Ethical-Discourse

En el Adhyāya 130, en un diálogo didáctico, Pṛthivī (Vasundharā) pregunta a Varāha/Nārāyaṇa, tras oír sobre la dīkṣā, cómo se purifican quienes cometen ofensas (aparādhas) y cuál es la falta (doṣa) de comer rājānna, alimento provisto por reyes. Varāha advierte que incluso los devotos que lo comen por codicia o por miedo incurren en graves consecuencias y prolongado sufrimiento en naraka. Explica que, en general, los śubha-bhāgavatas deben evitarlo, pues la actividad real puede ser rājasa/tāmasa o moralmente comprometida. Concede una excepción: si el alimento es preparado por bhāgavatas tras la debida instalación y adoración de Viṣṇu, y sostenido por dádivas justas, no mancha al que lo come. Para quienes ya consumieron rājānna prescribe expiaciones: un cāndrāyaṇa, un severo taptakṛcchra y un sāntapana, reiterando que la abstención es la disciplina preferida para quien busca la meta suprema.

Speakers

VarāhaPṛthivī

Key Concepts

rājānna (royal provisions) and ritual impurityprāyaścitta (cāndrāyaṇa, taptakṛcchra, sāntapana)bhāgavata-śuddhi (purity of devotees) and food ethicsrājasa/tāmasa karma and moral risk in state-linked consumptionconditional sanctification through Viṣṇu-sthāpana and bhāgavata-preparationPṛthivī’s inquiry as a terrestrial-ethical frame (earthly order and restraint)
Recitation with translationVaraha Purana Adhyaya 130

Shlokas in Adhyaya 130

Verse 1

अथ राजान्नभोगे प्रायश्चित्तम् ॥ सूत उवाच ॥ एवं दीक्षां ततः श्रुत्वा नारायणमुखान्मही ॥ विशुद्धमानसा देवी नारायणमथाब्रवीत् ॥

Ahora, la expiación relativa al disfrute del alimento real. Dijo Sūta: Habiendo oído así la dīkṣā de la boca de Nārāyaṇa, la diosa Tierra—con la mente purificada—habló entonces a Nārāyaṇa.

Verse 2

धरण्युवाच ॥ अहो ते दीक्षामाहात्म्यं यस्य वै व्युष्टिरुत्तमा ॥ श्रुत्वाहं तु महाभाग जातास्मि विमला विभो ॥

Dharaṇī dijo: «¡Ah, la grandeza de tu dīkṣā (iniciación sagrada), por la cual el amanecer de lo auspicioso es supremo! Al oírla, oh afortunado, he quedado purificada, oh poderoso».

Verse 3

अहो देवस्य माहात्म्यं लोकनाथस्य तत्त्वतः ॥ येन सा कारिता दीक्षा चातुर्वर्ण्यसुखावहा ॥

«¡Ah, la verdadera grandeza del Dios, Señor del mundo! Por él fue instituida esa iniciación, portadora de bienestar para los cuatro varṇa (órdenes sociales)».

Verse 4

एकं मे परमं गुह्यं यदीश हृदि वर्त्तते ॥ भव भक्तसुखार्थाय तत्त्वं मे वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

«Una cosa supremamente secreta mora en mi corazón, oh Señor. Por el bien de los devotos, debes declararme su verdad».

Verse 5

देव पूर्वापराधास्ते द्वात्रिंशदपि कीर्तिताः ॥ एवं कृत्वापराधानि मनुजा ह्यल्पचेतसः ॥

«Oh Dios, se han enumerado las ofensas anteriores, treinta y dos en total. Habiendo cometido así ofensas, los seres humanos, de escaso discernimiento, (incurren en falta)…».

Verse 6

कर्मणा केन शुद्ध्यन्ति अपराधस्य कारिणः ॥ तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन मम प्रीत्या च माधव ॥

«¿Por qué acción se purifican quienes cometen una ofensa? Dímelo conforme a la verdad, también por afecto hacia mí, oh Mādhava».

Verse 7

तद्वै भूम्याः वचः श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशो महामनाः ॥ दिव्यं ध्यानं समादाय प्रत्युवाच वसुन्धराम् ॥

Al oír las palabras de la Tierra, Hṛṣīkeśa, de gran ánimo, asumió una contemplación divina y luego respondió a Vasundharā.

Verse 8

श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ शुद्धा भागवता भूत्वा मम कर्मपरायणाः ॥ ये तु भुञ्जन्ति राजान्नं लोभेन च भयेन वा ॥

Śrī Varāha dijo: «Aun habiéndose vuelto puros, como bhāgavatas, y entregados a la observancia de mis actos prescritos, quienes, sin embargo, comen rājānna por codicia o por miedo—».

Verse 9

आपद्गता हि भुञ्जन्ति राजान्नं तु वसुन्धरे ॥ दशवर्षसहस्राणि पच्यन्ते नरके नराः ॥

«Pues, oh Vasundharā, quienes han caído en la aflicción consumen rājānna; sin embargo, se dice que los hombres “se cuecen” (padecen) en el infierno durante diez mil años».

Verse 10

ततो दीनमना भूत्वा सा मही संशितव्रता ॥ उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं सर्वलोकसुखावहम् ॥

Entonces, abatida de ánimo, aquella Tierra, firme en su voto, pronunció dulces palabras, portadoras del bienestar de todos los mundos.

Verse 11

धरण्युवाच ॥ शृणु तत्त्वेन मे देव हृदये हि व्यवस्थितम् ॥ को नु दोषोऽस्ति राज्ञां हि तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

Dharaṇī dijo: «Escucha, oh Señor, lo que en verdad está establecido en mi corazón: ¿cuál es, en efecto, la falta de los reyes? Eso debes explicármelo».

Verse 12

ततो भूम्याः वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वधर्मविदां वरः ॥ प्राह नारायणो वाक्यं धर्मकामां वसुन्धराम् ॥

Entonces, al oír las palabras de la Tierra, Nārāyaṇa—el más excelso entre los conocedores de todo dharma—dirigió una respuesta a Vasundharā, que anhela el dharma.

Verse 13

श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ शृणु सुन्दरि तत्त्वेन गुह्यमेतदनिन्दिते ॥ राजान्नं तु न भोक्तव्यं शुभैर्भागवतैः सदा ॥

Śrī Varāha dijo: «Escucha, oh hermosa, oh irreprochable, este secreto tal como es en verdad: el rājānna no debe ser comido jamás por los virtuosos bhāgavatas».

Verse 14

यद्यप्येष समत्वेन राजा लोके प्रवर्तते ॥ राजसं तामसं वापि कुर्वन्कर्म सुदारुणम् ॥

«Aunque un rey actúe en el mundo con apariencia de imparcialidad, aun así puede realizar acciones severas que sean rajásicas o incluso tamásicas».

Verse 15

अपि वा गर्हितं तेन राजान्नं तु वसुन्धरे ॥ धर्मसन्धानार्थाय न तु मे रोचते भुवि ॥

«O bien, oh Vasundharā, ese rājānna se vuelve censurable por causa de él (del gobernante). Aun por mantener el orden del dharma, no me es grato sobre la tierra».

Verse 16

ततो यद्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे ॥ यथा राज्ञां तु भोज्यं वै शुद्धैर्भागवतैर्नरैः ॥

«Por tanto, escucha, oh Vasundharā, lo que voy a explicar: de qué manera la provisión del rey puede, en verdad, ser comida por personas bhāgavatas purificadas».

Verse 17

स्थापयित्वा तु मां देवि विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥ धनधान्यसमृद्धानि दत्त्वा भागवतैरपि

«Habiéndome instalado, oh Diosa, mediante un rito prescrito conforme al debido procedimiento, y habiendo además ofrecido—por medio de los devotos del Bhagavān—dones abundantes en riqueza y grano…»

Verse 18

सिद्धं भागवतैश्चान्नं मम प्रापणशेषकम् ॥ भुञ्जानस्तु वरारोहे न स पापेन लिप्यते

«Y el alimento preparado por los devotos—el remanente tras haber sido ofrecido a Mí—cuando se come, oh de hermosas caderas, no queda manchado por el pecado.»

Verse 19

धरण्युवाच ॥ राजान्नं तु नरो भुक्त्वा शुद्धो भागवतः शुचिः ॥ कर्मणा केन शुद्ध्येत तन्मे ब्रूहि जनार्दन

La Tierra dijo: «Después de que un hombre ha comido el alimento del rey, aunque sea un devoto puro y personalmente limpio, ¿por qué acto puede purificarse? Dímelo, oh Janārdana.»

Verse 20

श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ शृणु तत्त्वेन मे देवि यन्मां त्वं भीरु भाषसे ॥ तरन्ति पुरुषा येन राजान्नस्योपभुञ्जकाः

Śrī Varāha dijo: «Escúchame en verdad, oh Diosa, acerca de lo que preguntas con temor. Por este medio, quienes participan del alimento del rey cruzan más allá de la falta.»

Verse 21

एकं चान्द्रायणं कृत्वा तप्तकृच्छ्रं च पुष्कलम् ॥ कुर्यात्सान्तपनं चैव शीघ्रं मुच्यन्ति किल्बिषात्

«Habiendo observado un Cāndrāyaṇa, y un Taptakṛcchra completo, debe realizar también un Sāntapana; así quedan pronto liberados de la transgresión.»

Verse 22

न तस्य चापराधोऽस्ति वसुधे वै वचो मम ॥ एवमेव न भोक्तव्यं राजान्नं वै कदाचन ॥ ममात्र पूजाकामेन यदीच्छेत्परमां गतिम्

«No hay falta en él, oh Vasudhā: ésta es mi palabra. Con todo, jamás debe comerse el alimento del rey, si alguien—deseoso de adorarme aquí—busca la suprema meta.»

Verse 23

भगवद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कम्पिता च वसुन्धरा ॥ दिनानि सप्त दश च भयं तीव्रमजायत

Al oír las palabras del Señor, Vasundharā tembló; y durante diecisiete días surgió en ella un temor intenso.

Verse 24

एवं विष्णुवचः श्रुत्वा धरणी संशितव्रता ॥ वराहरूपिणं देवं प्रत्युवाच वरानना

Así, tras oír las palabras de Viṣṇu, Dharaṇī—firme en su voto—respondió al dios que había asumido la forma de Varāha, ella de bello rostro.

Inside Adhyaya 130

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    After the preceding discussion of dīkṣā, Pṛthivī (Vasundharā) raises a practical dharma-question: how can people who have committed specified aparādhas be purified, and what is the precise doṣa involved in consuming rājānna (royal-provided food)?

  2. Central event

    Varāha/Nārāyaṇa explains that rājānna is ethically and ritually hazardous for śubha-bhāgavatas because kingship often operates amid rājasa/tāmasa impulses and morally compromised acts; even devotees who eat such food from greed or fear accrue grave demerit and suffer long in naraka.

  3. Climax resolution

    Pṛthivī, alarmed, asks for a principled rule. Varāha gives a two-part resolution: (1) the normative discipline is avoidance of rājānna for those seeking the highest goal; (2) a conditional exception exists—if the food is prepared/“accomplished” by bhāgavatas with Viṣṇu properly installed and worshipped and supported by righteous gifting, it does not taint the eater. For those who already consumed rājānna, he prescribes prāyaścitta: one cāndrāyaṇa, a strong taptakṛcchra, and one sāntapana.

Geographical context

No explicit toponyms or river systems are mentioned in this adhyāya; the setting is dialogic and ethical-ritual rather than geographically anchored.

Ritual instructions

  • Primary RitualPrāyaścitta for rājānna-doṣa: cāndrāyaṇa, taptakṛcchra (severe), and sāntapana; plus conditional sanctification of food via Viṣṇu-sthāpana and bhāgavata-preparation.
  • BenefitRemoval of rājānna-doṣa and restoration of bhāgavata-śuddhi; protection from the severe karmic consequences described (including naraka-suffering), and reinforcement of sattvic restraint conducive to the highest goal.

The narrative frame

  • Varāha/Nārāyaṇa (teaching voice); Pṛthivī/Vasundharā (questioner)Pṛthivī/Vasundharā (primary listener within the dialogue) · Didactic, cautionary, and norm-setting; moves from fear-inducing warning to principled clarification and remedial instruction.

The emotional journey

  • Dominant RasaBhaya transitioning to Śānta (with a devotional undercurrent)
  • Emotional ProgressionConcerned inquiry → stark warning and fear of karmic downfall → shaken request for rationale → clarified ethical principle and conditional exception → sober resolve through expiation and disciplined avoidance.

Planning a pilgrimage

  • Visit FeasibilityNot tirtha-anchored; best approached as a household/temple practice chapter. One may integrate its teaching during visits to Viṣṇu temples by observing disciplined prasāda intake and ethical scrutiny of patronage sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

The text frames rājānna as ethically risky because royal conduct may involve rājasa or tāmasa motivations and potentially blameworthy actions; therefore, devotees (bhāgavatas) are instructed to avoid such food. If consumption occurs, the chapter emphasizes purification through defined prāyaścittas and allows a conditional exception when the food is ritually aligned—prepared by bhāgavatas with Viṣṇu properly installed/worshipped and supported by righteous giving—so that the eater is not stained by pāpa.

The chapter does not specify seasons or calendrical festivals, but it explicitly names a lunar-based expiation, cāndrāyaṇa, whose discipline is traditionally structured around the waxing and waning of the moon. No tithi, māsa, or ṛtu markers are directly stated in the provided verses.

Although it does not discuss ecology explicitly, the terrestrial-ethical framing is carried by Pṛthivī/Vasundharā as the questioning voice concerned with dharma and the consequences of human conduct. The chapter links social consumption patterns (state-linked food, coercion, greed, fear) to moral pollution and purification, presenting restraint and ritual accountability as mechanisms for maintaining orderly life on earth (bhūmi-dharma) rather than destabilizing it through ethically compromised sustenance.

No specific dynasties, royal lineages, or named sages are cited in this adhyāya beyond the narrative speakers (Sūta as narrator; Varāha/Nārāyaṇa; Pṛthivī/Vasundharā). The term rājā is used generically to denote kingship as an institution rather than a particular historical ruler.

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