Varaha Purana 130.12: Adhyaya 130, Shloka 12

Expiation and Dietary Discipline Concerning the Consumption of Royal Food

rājānna

Pūrva Bhāga · Dialogue Dynamics (Varāha/Nārāyaṇa begins reply)

Devanagari script

ततो भूम्याः वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वधर्मविदां वरः ॥ प्राह नारायणो वाक्यं धर्मकामां वसुन्धराम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 130.12

Transliteration

tato bhūmyā vacaḥ śrutvā sarvadharmavidāṃ varaḥ | prāha nārāyaṇo vākyaṃ dharmakāmāṃ vasundharām ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

धरती ने जो बात कही, वो सुन के नारायण ने जवाब दिया। वो सबसे बड़े धरम जानने वाले थे। धरती धरम जानना चाहती थी, तो उन्हें समझाया।

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)

• bhūmyāḥ: of the Earth
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)

• śrutvā: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: śru (धातु)

• sarva-dharma-vidām: of the knowers of all dharmas
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मं वेत्ति इति धर्मविद्; सर्वे धर्मविदः)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)

• varaḥ: the best/excellent one
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)

• prāha: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: pra-√ah (धातु)

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• vākyam: a statement/utterance
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)

• dharma-kāmām: desiring dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मं कामयते इति)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)

• vasundharām: Vasundharā/Earth
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• compounds: sarva-dharma-vidām, dharma-kāmām.

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasa

Speaker

Narrator (introducing Nārāyaṇa/Varāha’s response)

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

She listens

Her state of mind

Seeking dharma (dharma-kāmā), attentive

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Guru-śiṣya/dharma-saṃvāda frame

Subjects

DharmaDialogue FrameworkEthics

Core idea

Dharma is best clarified through śravaṇa and authoritative instruction; the seeker’s intent (dharma-kāmatā) qualifies them for teaching.

In practice

Approach ethical dilemmas by listening carefully to principled guidance; cultivate the disposition of dharma-seeking before action.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

The Lord (Nārāyaṇa/Varāha) prepares to answer Bhū-devī’s dharma-question, acknowledging her dharma-seeking intent

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Ethical Discourse

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It marks a formal shift into normative teaching, presenting the instructor as an authority on comprehensive dharma.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic identification occurs in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Ethical teaching is framed as a response to sincere inquiry (dharma-kāmatā).