Varaha Purana 115.3: Adhyaya 115, Shloka 3

The Arising of Diverse Dharmas: Devotional Observances and Varṇa-Based Duties

Devanagari script

नाहं दानसहस्रेण नाहं यज्ञशतैरपि ॥ तुष्यामि न तु वित्तेन ये नराः स्वल्पचेतसः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 115.3

Transliteration

nāhaṃ dānasahasreṇa nāhaṃ yajñaśatair api || tuṣyāmi na tu vittena ye narāḥ svalpacetasaḥ

Translation

मैं हज़ारों तोहफ़े से खुश नहीं होता। सौ यज्ञ करने से भी नहीं। पैसे से भी नहीं, जो लोग समझ में छोटे हैं वो इसी पीछे भागते हैं।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dāna-sahasreṇa: by a thousand gifts
• dāna-sahasreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'dānānāṃ sahasram' → 'dānasahasram' (a thousand gifts)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yajña-śataiḥ: by hundreds of sacrifices
• yajña-śataiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'yajñānāṃ śatāni' → 'yajñaśatāni' (hundreds of sacrifices), here instr. pl.

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात); 'even/also'

• tuṣyāmi: I am pleased
• tuṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात); contrast

• vittena: by wealth
• vittena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• narāḥ: men/people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svalpa-cetasaḥ: of petty mind
• svalpa-cetasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'svalpaṃ ceto yeṣām' (those whose mind is small) qualifying 'narāḥ'

Speaker

Varāha/Nārāyaṇa (instructor)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ethical Critique
• Purāṇic Didactics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects an internal critique within Sanskrit religious literature that relativizes ritual quantity and wealth, highlighting broader shifts toward intention and devotion.

Which geographic location is identified?

None; the verse is ethical and rhetorical rather than geographic.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It critiques performative or materially driven religiosity and implies that discernment and inner orientation are central to meaningful practice.