Varaha Purana 136.39: Adhyaya 136, Shloka 39

A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions

Uttara Bhāga · Prāyaścitta and Śmaśāna Narrative (Kapāla Motif)

Devanagari script

स्वयं तिष्ठन्ति वै तत्र मनुजा विगतस्पृहाः ॥ तत्र गृह्य कपालानि रम तत्रैव शङ्कर ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 136.39

Transliteration

svayaṁ tiṣṭhanti vai tatra manujā vigataspṛhāḥ || tatra gṛhya kapālāni rama tatraiva śaṅkara ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

वहाँ लोग खुद से रहते हैं, किसी चीज़ की इच्छा नहीं रखते। वहाँ वो खाली खोपड़ियाँ उठा के रहते हैं। शंकर, वही रहो और मस्ती करो।

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Word by Word

• svayam: of oneself

• tiṣṭhanti: they stand/remain

• vai: indeed

• tatra: there

• manujāḥ: humans

• vigata-spṛhāḥ: free from desire

• gṛhya: having taken

• kapālāni: skull(-bowls)

• rama: dwell/sport

• tatraiva: in that very place

• śaṅkara: Śaṅkara (Śiva)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Bhayanaka rasaSetting: Cremation-ground/ascetic haunt

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Renunciation psychology

Subjects

EthicsRitual PracticeCultural Heritage

Core idea

Freedom from craving (spṛhā) is portrayed as the inner marker of purification; external austerity (kapāla, śmaśāna-vāsa) is meaningful insofar as it yields inner dispassion.

In practice

Practice deliberate simplicity and contemplation on death/impermanence; reduce sensory indulgence; adopt disciplines that weaken craving and strengthen equanimity.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Ritual Atonement

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a widespread Purāṇic and Śaiva narrative motif in which cremation-ground (śmaśāna) settings and skull-bowls (kapāla) signify liminal ritual space and themes of transgression and purification.

Which geographic location is identified?

A specific named location is not supplied in this verse; it refers generally to a śmaśāna-like setting (“there”), requiring broader chapter context for identification.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds the ideal of desirelessness (vigataspṛhā) and frames a disciplined dwelling in a liminal space as part of a larger purification narrative.