Varaha Purana 139.119: Adhyaya 139, Shloka 119

The Glory of Varāha’s Rite: Merits of Cow-dung Plastering, Sweeping, Singing, Instrumental Music, and Dance

with a Truth-Vow Exemplum

Uttara Bhāga · Dharma, Mantra-śakti, and Narrative Dialogue (Brahmarākṣasa Episode)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा श्वपाकोऽपि नित्यं सत्यव्रते स्थितः॥ राक्षसं समनुप्राप्तस्तमुवाचाथ पूजयन्॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 139.119

Transliteration

evam uktvā śvapāko 'pi nityaṁ satyavrate sthitaḥ || rākṣasaṁ samanuprāptas tam uvāca atha pūjayan

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

यह कहके वो श्वपाक, जो हमेशा सच का व्रत रखता था, राक्षस के पास गया। उसने राक्षस को रेस्पेक्ट से बात की।

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Word by Word

• evam: thus; in this way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: evam (अव्यय)

• uktvā: having said
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having said’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Root: √vac (धातु)

• śvapākaḥ: the outcaste (śvapāka)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: śvapāka (प्रातिपदिक)

• api: also; even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’
• Role: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Root: api (अव्यय)

• nityam: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण), neuter singular form
• Role: Kāla (काल)
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)

• satyavrate: in the vow of truth
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: satyasya vrataṁ (truth-vow)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: satya-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)

• sthitaḥ: standing; abiding
• Type: Verb
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: √sthā (धातु)

• rākṣasam: the demon
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)

• samanuprāptaḥ: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having reached/approached’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: sam-anu-√prāp (धातु)

• tam: him
• Type: Noun
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• uvāca: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: √vac (धातु)

• atha: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya, discourse particle (निपात) indicating sequence
• Role: Anantarya (अनन्तर्य)
• Root: atha (अव्यय)

• pūjayan: worshipping; honoring
• Type: Verb
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘while worshipping’
• Role: Kriyā-sahakārī (क्रिया-सहकारी)
• Root: √pūj (धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• śvapākaḥ + api → śvapāko 'pi (visarga → o before vowel)
• tam + uvāca → tam uvāca (no change)

Speaker and setting

Shanta rasa

Speaker

Narrator

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethical discipline (ācāra)

Subjects

EthicsNarrative EtiquetteVows (Vrata)

Core idea

Satya and vinaya are independent of birth-status; conduct (ācāra) is the true marker of dharma.

In practice

Maintain truthfulness consistently and address even adversaries/terrifying beings with measured respect to open the door for right dialogue.

Dharma

Vrata

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Ethical Discourse
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects Purāṇic ethical narration where social status does not preclude moral discipline (satya-vrata) and courteous speech.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified; the verse is primarily dialogic and ethical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Truthfulness and respectful conduct are presented as stable virtues even in tense or ambiguous encounters.