Varaha Purana 138.14: Adhyaya 138, Shloka 14

The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird

and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit

Pūrva Bhāga · Sacred Geography & Karmic Narrative (conflict arising from possessiveness)

Devanagari script

ममायं वै ममायं वै जिघृक्षन्तः परस्परम् ॥ सङ्घर्षात्कलहं चक्रुर्भृशं क्रीडनकोत्सुकाः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 138.14

Transliteration

mamāyaṁ vai mamāyaṁ vai jighṛkṣantaḥ parasparam || saṅgharṣāt kalahaṁ cakrur bhṛśaṁ krīḍanako-tsukāḥ

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

वो बोलने लगे यह मेरा है, यह मेरा है। एक दूसरे से छीनने की कोशिश कर रहे थे। झगड़ा हो गया क्योंकि दोनों को खेल का मज़ा चाहिए था।

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Word by Word

• mama: my/mine
• Type: Noun
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive pronoun
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• ayam: this (one)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (in quoted claim)
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• vai: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Nipāta (particle), emphasis
• Role: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Root: vai (अव्यय)

• mama: my/mine
• Type: Noun
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• ayam: this (one)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (in quoted claim)
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• vai: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Nipāta (particle)
• Role: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Root: vai (अव्यय)

• jighṛkṣantaḥ: wanting to grab
• Type: Verb
• Form: Desiderative present active participle (सन्नन्त + शतृ), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'wishing to seize'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (participle qualifying bālāḥ)
• Root: √grah (ग्रह् धातु) + san (सन् desiderative) + śatṛ (शतृ)

• parasparam: each other
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyayībhāva-prayoga (adverbial use), mutuality
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)

• saṅgharṣāt: from/owing to collision
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Pañcamī-vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; ablative of cause
• Role: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Root: saṅgharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)

• kalaham: quarrel
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: kalaha (प्रातिपदिक)

• cakruḥ: they made/caused
• Type: Verb
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)

• bhṛśam: greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Mātrā-avyaya (adverb of degree)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)

• krīḍanaka-utsukāḥ: eager to play
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'krīḍanake utsukāḥ' (eager for play)
• Role: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Root: krīḍanaka (प्रातिपदिक) + utsuka (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• mamāyaṁ = mama ayam
• saṅgharṣāt = saṅgharṣāt (ablative)
• cakrur = cakruḥ (visarga-less before bhṛśam). krīḍanako-tsukāḥ = krīḍanaka-utsukāḥ

Speaker and setting

Raudra and Hasya rasaSetting: Public commons near sacred waters

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Observer; reflective as the moral tension rises

What she asks

What is the root of kalaha—external object or internal mamatā (‘mine-ness’)?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethics of non-possessiveness

Subjects

EthicsNarrative LiteratureMoral Psychology

Core idea

Conflict is born from appropriation-claims; the ‘object’ is secondary to the egoic claim over it.

In practice

Practice aparigraha in small matters; teach dispute de-escalation—share, take turns, or let go.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Ethical Instruction
• Conflict Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse showcases a common Sanskrit ethical topos: possessive language (“mama”) precipitates conflict, reflecting broader Indic reflections on attachment and social discord.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Attachment and possessiveness are portrayed as immediate causes of quarrel and social disruption.