Varaha Purana 7.22 — Adhyaya 7, Shloka 22

The Sanctity of Gayā: Raibhya’s Encounter and Hymn to Viṣṇu

Gadādhara

Devanagari script

अत्र पिण्डप्रदानेन एतौ तव पितामहौ । दुर्गतावपि संसिद्धौ पापकृद्विकृतिं गतौ ॥ ७.२२ ॥

Transliteration

atra piṇḍapradānena etau tava pitāmahau | durgatāv api saṃsiddhau pāpakṛd-vikṛtiṃ gatau || 7.22 ||

Translation

Aquí, mediante la ofrenda del piṇḍa, estos dos abuelos tuyos—aunque caídos en un estado desdichado—han alcanzado la plenitud, habiendo trascendido la condición alterada producida por el obrar pecaminoso.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• पिण्डप्रदानेन: by offering the piṇḍa (funeral ball)
• पिण्डप्रदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; (पिण्डस्य प्रदानम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; द्विवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पितामहौ: (your) two grandfathers
• पितामहौ: Apposition/Relation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; द्विवचन

• दुर्गतौ: in misfortune/bad state
• दुर्गतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative); द्विवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-निपात (particle: even/also)

• संसिद्धौ: fully accomplished/liberated
• संसिद्धौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; द्विवचन; विशेषण (एतौ/पितामहौ)

• पापकृत्: sin-doing/sinful
• पापकृत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; द्विवचन; (पापं करोति इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः); विशेषण

• विकृतिम्: deformity/perversion
• विकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• गतौ: having gone/attained
• गतौ: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (past participle ‘gone/attained’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; द्विवचन; ‘एतौ’ इत्यस्य विधेय

Speaker

Varāha (default, per dialogue framework when unspecified)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"Can piṇḍa-offering at this place redeem even ancestors who have fallen into misfortune due to sin, and what changes in their condition?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"Offering piṇḍas at the tīrtha brings ‘saṃsiddhi’ to ancestors, reversing durgati caused by pāpa.","karmic_consequence":"Proper piṇḍa-dāna uplifts pitṛs from durgati; omission leaves them in the vikṛta (afflicted) state produced by sinful karma."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"intergenerational karma and grace-through-rite","core_concept":"Descendants can function as instruments for pitṛ-uplift; ritual action, when dhārmically performed, mediates compassion across generations.","practical_application":"Maintain śrāddha obligations; perform piṇḍa offerings with sincerity, especially at praised tīrthas, dedicating merit to afflicted ancestors."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Ancestral Rites","Cultural Heritage"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuṇa

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha associated with śrāddha efficacy

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 7.7.23 (purification even for brahma-hatyā lineage); Varāha Purāṇa 7.7.25 (comparison with Gayā)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha scene at a tīrtha: piṇḍas offered, and two grandfathers are shown transitioning from a dark afflicted state to a luminous fulfilled state.","item_prompts":["piṇḍa balls on leaf/plate","kuśa grass and water libation","two ancestral figures transforming (dark to light)","riverbank tīrtha setting"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: ritualist offering piṇḍas by river; two pitṛs behind in semi-transparent form shifting from dusky tones to bright halos; strong outlines, warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf highlights on the uplifted pitṛs, ornate riverbank shrine elements, rich reds/greens, clear iconographic separation of ‘durgati’ vs ‘saṃsiddhi’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant, subdued śrāddha tableau with delicate facial expressions of relief; soft glow around pitṛs indicating purification.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate riverside vignette, small figures, expressive transformation of pitṛs in the sky band, gentle natural scenery."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"compassionate, reassuring","suggested_raga":"Kharaharapriya","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, explanatory"}

Tags

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

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic articulation of Śrāddha-related customs, presenting piṇḍa-dāna as a culturally significant rite associated with improving the post-mortem condition of ancestors—useful for understanding ritual history and normative ethics in Sanskrit literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic toponym is named in this verse; the deictic term “atra” (“here”) implies a previously mentioned sacred or ritually efficacious location in the surrounding passage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes filial responsibility and ethical continuity across generations, presenting ritual giving (piṇḍa-dāna) as a means of addressing the consequences of harmful actions and supporting ancestral welfare within the text’s moral framework.