Varaha Purana 39.31: Adhyaya 39, Shloka 31

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

Pūrva Bhāga · Vrata-Dharma (Ekādaśī observance and devotional discipline)

Devanagari script

एकादश्यां निराहारः स्थित्वाहमपरेऽहनि । भोक्ष्यामि पुण्डरीकाक्ष शरणं मे भवाच्युत ॥ ३९.३१ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 39.31

Transliteration

ekādaśyāṃ nirāhāraḥ sthitvāham apare 'hani | bhokṣyāmi puṇḍarīkākṣa śaraṇaṃ me bhavācyuta || 39.31 ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Ekadashi ko main bina khaye rahunga, agle din khaunga. Bhagwan, tumhare paas main sharana aata hoon. Tum meri raksha karo.

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Word by Word

• ekādaśyām: on the eleventh (day)
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)

• nirāhāraḥ: fasting / without food
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: nir-āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)

• sthitvā: having stayed / having remained
• Type: Verb
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: sthā (धाातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुष-प्रयोग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)

• apare: on the next
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)

• ahani: day
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)

• bhokṣyāmi: I will eat
• Type: Verb
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: bhuj (धातु)

• puṇḍarīkākṣa: O lotus-eyed one
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘puṇḍarīkasya akṣī iva’
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: puṇḍarīka + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)

• śaraṇam: refuge
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• me: of me / my
• Type: Noun
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)

• bhava: be (become)
• Type: Verb
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: bhū (धातु)

• acyuta: O Acyuta (the infallible one)
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• स्थित्वाहम् = स्थित्वा + अहम्
• अपरेऽहनि = अपरे + अहनि
• भवाच्युत = भव + अच्युत (vocative address)

Speaker and setting

Bhakti and Shanta rasaSetting: Temple/home inner space of vow-taking

Speaker

Pṛthivī

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

She worships

Her state of mind

Devotional, seeking refuge; disciplined (vrata-oriented)

What she asks

Implicit plea rather than a question: seeking Acyuta’s protection/refuge while undertaking Ekādaśī fasting and breaking it on Dvādaśī.

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Śaraṇāgati with tapas (disciplined devotion)

Subjects

EthicsRitual PracticeDevotional Discipline

Core idea

Austerity is not self-powered; it is sustained by surrender to the Lotus-eyed Lord as protector and goal.

In practice

When taking a vow, articulate a clear saṅkalpa (what/when), keep restraint, and pair it with a heartfelt refuge-prayer rather than mere rule-following.

Dharma

Vrata

Mathura and Krishna

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dharma-śāstra Themes

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a widespread Purāṇic-era discipline of vrata practice—fasting on Ekādaśī and breaking the fast the next day—documenting how devotional observance is framed in concise vow-language and epithets for Viṣṇu.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it focuses on calendrical observance (Ekādaśī) and a devotional address to Viṣṇu.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse models self-restraint (fasting) coupled with a stated intention to follow a regulated practice (eating the next day), expressed alongside seeking refuge—an ethical pattern of discipline and reliance on a stabilizing ideal.