Varaha Purana 127.6: Adhyaya 127, Shloka 6

Description of the Brāhmaṇa Initiation Procedure

Dīkṣā-sūtra

Devanagari script

ततो महीवचः श्रुत्वा मेघदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनः ॥ वराहरूपी भगवान्प्रत्युवाच वसुन्धराम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 127.6

Transliteration

tato mahīvacaḥ śrutvā meghadundubhiniḥsvanaḥ | varāharūpī bhagavān pratyuvāca vasundharām ||

Translation

जब वसुंधरा ने यह बात कही, तो भगवान ने सुना। भगवान वराह रूप में थे। उनकी आवाज़ बादल और ढोल की तरह गूँज रही थी। फिर उन्होंने जवाब दिया।

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• mahī-vacaḥ: the words of the Earth (Vasundharā)
• mahī-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) ‘earth’s words’, Napuṁsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) vacas, Prathamā? here as object of śrutvā: Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन) (form vacaḥ = acc/nom sg)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-anta (क्त्वा), absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• megha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaḥ: whose sound is like cloud and drum
• megha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) (descriptive), Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhagavān

• varāha-rūpī: in the form of a boar
• varāha-rūpī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varāha (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष), Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) with prati- + ud- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vasundharām: to Vasundharā (Earth)
• vasundharām: Sampradāna/Prati (सम्प्रदान/प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narrator (implicit); transition to Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Mythic Iconography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a characteristic Purāṇic narrative technique: vivid iconographic description introduces doctrinal instruction, linking mythic form (Varāha) with teaching authority.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific location is mentioned; the verse establishes the speaker transition within the Earth–Varāha dialogue.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The ethical thrust is indirect: it legitimizes instruction as a response to inquiry, emphasizing dialogue as a method for transmitting norms.