Varaha Purana 126.197: Adhyaya 126, Shloka 197

The Greatness of Kubjāmraka: Raibhya’s Boon and the Teaching on the Sacred Tīrthas

Uttara Bhāga · Dharma–Rājadharma Narrative (Kosalā lineage; sacred geography of Kubjāmraka)

Devanagari script

पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा कोसलानां कुलोद्वहः ॥ वर्तमानॆऽपि च ज्येष्ठे कनीयान् कथमर्हति

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 126.197

Transliteration

putrasya vacanaṃ śrutvā kosalānāṃ kulodvahaḥ || vartamāne 'pi ca jyeṣṭhe kanīyān katham arhati

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

बेटा की बात सुन के कोसल के बड़े खानदान के सरपंच ने सोचा। जब बड़ा भाई ज़िन्दा है, तो छोटा भाई राज कैसे कर सकता है? यह गलत है।

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Word by Word

• पुत्रस्य: of the son
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular
• Role: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’
• Role: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial prior action)
• Root: श्रु (धातु)

• कोसलानाम्: of the Kosalas
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Root: कोसल (प्रातिपदिक)

• कुलोद्वहः: upholder of the lineage
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुलस्य उद्वहः)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Root: कुल + उद्वह (प्रातिपदिक)

• वर्तमानॆ: while (he) is present
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular (agreeing with ज्येष्ठे)
• Role: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Root: वर्तमान (प्रातिपदिक)

• अपि: even/although
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निपात (particle), concessive ‘even/although’
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Particle/connector)
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• ज्येष्ठे: when the elder (brother) is (there)
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular
• Role: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)

• कनीयान्: the younger (one)
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular (comparative)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Root: कनीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)

• अर्हति: is entitled/deserves
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘is entitled/deserves’
• Role: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• वर्तमानॆऽपि = वर्तमानॆ + अपि
• कथमर्हति = कथम् + अर्हति

Speaker and setting

Shanta rasaSetting: Dynastic polity

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Dharma-deliberation (nyāya-vicāra)

Subjects

EthicsRoyal succession (Rājadharma)Dialogue/Deliberation

Core idea

Dharma is applied through careful reasoning about norms and exceptions, not mere impulse; rightful entitlement must be examined.

In practice

Before reallocating rights/resources, test decisions against established norms, living stakeholders, and the common good; document/clarify exceptions.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Dharmaśāstra Resonances
• Ancient Polity

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic and Dharmaśāstra concern with orderly succession and legitimacy, framing kingship as a moral-legal institution rather than mere power.

Which geographic location is identified?

No explicit place-name appears in this verse; the passage context later introduces Kubjāmraka as a named sacred locale.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds fairness and precedence: the younger should not supersede the elder while the elder is living, unless a lawful/ethical rationale is established.