Varaha Purana 174.27 — Adhyaya 174, Shloka 27

The Sanctifying Power of River Confluences: Release from the Preta-State and the Rite of Śravaṇa Dvādaśī with Vāmana Worship

Devanagari script

गृहाणि त्यक्तशौचानि प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै ॥ बलिमन्त्रविहीनानि दानहीनानि यानि च

Transliteration

gṛhāṇi tyakta-śaucāni pretā bhuñjanti tatra vai || bali-mantra-vihīn āni dāna-hīn āni yāni ca

Translation

જ્યાં ઘરોમાં શૌચ-શુદ્ધિનો ત્યાગ થયો છે, ત્યાં પ્રેતો નિશ્ચયે ભોજન કરે છે—વિશેષ કરીને જ્યાં બલિ અને મંત્ર વિહિન હોય તથા દાનનો અભાવ હોય।

Word by Word

• gṛhāṇi: houses
• gṛhāṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tyakta-śaucāni: having abandoned cleanliness
• tyakta-śaucāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (त्यज् धातु, क्त) + śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally; tatpuruṣa ‘abandoned-purity/cleanliness’

• pretāḥ: pretas/spirits of the dead
• pretāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhuñjanti: eat, partake
• bhuñjanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• bali-mantra-vihīn āni: lacking offerings and mantras
• bali-mantra-vihīn āni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘devoid of bali and mantra’

• dāna-hīn āni: lacking charity
• dāna-hīn āni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘devoid of gifts/charity’

• yāni: which (those)
• yāni: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

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":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"Maintain household śauca and perform bali with mantra and dāna; otherwise the space becomes a locus for preta-enjoyment (inauspicious consumption).","karmic_consequence":"Observance preserves auspiciousness and proper pitṛ/preta boundaries; neglect invites preta-association, ritual pollution, and loss of merit in offerings."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

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":"karma-ritual ethics","core_concept":"Ritual purity and intentional offering (mantra + dāna) regulate unseen economies of merit and prevent adharmic appropriation of offerings.","practical_application":"Keep daily cleanliness, perform prescribed offerings with mantra, and practice regular giving; avoid ‘empty’ ritual acts devoid of śraddhā and procedure."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual practice","Household discipline"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 174.31-34 (continuation on preta-bhojana and remedies)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A neglected household: unclean threshold, no bali-offering, no mantra-recitation; shadowy pretas hovering and ‘partaking’ of abandoned food/offerings.","item_prompts":["dim interior of a house","unclean vessels","unused offering plate","absence of sacred fire/altar","shadowy preta figures near food","discarded flowers/ash"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: warm ochres and greens; a domestic courtyard with stylized shadow-pretas; emphasis on ritual objects left unused; flat decorative patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central neglected bali-plate with gold highlights; pretas as subdued dark silhouettes; ornate doorway frame; strong contrast between sacred objects and neglect.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: detailed domestic realism—vessels, floor patterns, threshold; subtle translucent pretas; restrained palette, fine linework.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate indoor scene with lyrical lines; pale background; pretas as mist-like forms; focus on moral mood rather than horror."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"admonitory and grave","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"firm, cautioning, slightly hushed on ‘pretāḥ bhuñjanti’"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ritual Culture
• Sanskrit Philology
• Cultural Heritage

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents the linkage, in Purāṇic household ideology, between cleanliness (śauca), giving (dāna), and ritual regularity, framed through the culturally significant category of preta.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Maintain cleanliness, regular offerings/ritual recitation, and generosity as stabilizing household disciplines.