Varaha Purana 187.106: Adhyaya 187, Shloka 106

Determination of the Origin and Procedure of the Ancestral Offering

Pitṛyajña/Śrāddha

Devanagari script

प्राणैर्हृतं तु तं ज्ञात्वा चितां कृत्वा विधानतः ॥ तस्या उपरि संस्थाप्य दक्षिणाग्रं शिरस्तथा

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 187.106

Transliteration

prāṇair hṛtaṃ tu taṃ jñātvā citāṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ || tasyā upari saṃsthāpya dakṣiṇāgraṃ śiras tathā

Translation

जब इंसान की जान चली जाती है, तो उसकी लाश को सही तरह से चिता पे रखना है। सिर को दक्षिण तरफ रखना है।

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Word by Word

• प्राणैः: by the vital breaths / by life
• प्राणैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• हृतम्: taken away
• हृतम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘taken away’

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे

• तम्: him / that one
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having known)

• चिताम्: funeral pyre
• चिताम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having made)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed rite
• विधानतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘according to rule’

• तस्याः: of it / of her (of the pyre)
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• उपरि: upon / on top
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition/adverb), अधिकरणार्थे

• संस्थाप्य: having placed
• संस्थाप्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having placed/installed’

• दक्षिणाग्रम्: with the tip to the south / south-pointed
• दक्षिणाग्रम्: कर्म (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दक्षिणं अग्रं यस्य)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘in that manner/also’

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework)

Tags

• Purāṇic Ritual
• Classical Literature
• Funerary Customs
• Cultural Heritage

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It provides a concise procedural snapshot of cremation practice, useful for comparative study with Dharmaśāstra and Gṛhya-sūtra prescriptions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific location is named; the verse concerns universally framed ritual procedure.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To acknowledge death with clarity and to perform rites in an orderly, regulated manner, emphasizing care and accountability.