Varaha Purana 193.23: Adhyaya 193, Shloka 23

Naciketas’ Journey to Yama’s Abode and the Eulogy of Truthfulness

Uttara Bhāga · Dharma-śāstric / Vaṁśa-Dharma (Lineage Ethics) Narrative

Devanagari script

यदि वैवस्वतो राजा तत्र प्राप्तं यदृच्छया ॥ रोषेण त्वां महातेजा विसृज्येन्न कदाचन ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 193.23

Transliteration

yadi vaivasvato rājā tatra prāptaṃ yadṛcchayā || roṣeṇa tvāṃ mahātejā visṛjyen na kadācana ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

अगर राजा वैवस्वत वहाँ आ गया तो वो तुम्हे कभी नहीं छोड़े गा। वो बहुत पावरफुल है और गुस्से में है।

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Word by Word

• yadi: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्तसूचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)

• vaivasvataḥ: Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvat)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying rājā
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: vaivasvata (प्रातिपदिक)

• rājā: king
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)

• tatra: there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)

• prāptam: arrived/obtained
• Type: Verb
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively ‘having arrived/obtained’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Root: √āp + pra (धातु) / prāpta (कृदन्त)

• yadṛcchayā: by chance
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: yadṛcchā (प्रातिपदिक)

• roṣeṇa: with anger
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: roṣa (प्रातिपदिक)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)

• mahātejāḥ: greatly radiant/powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); compound adjective qualifying rājā
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)

• visṛjyet: might abandon/let go
• Type: Verb
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: √sṛj + vi (धातु)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Role: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Root: na (अव्यय)

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय), used with negation = ‘ever’
• Role: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)

Sandhi Notes

• visṛjyen → visṛjyet (विधिलिङ् 3sg)
• mahātejā (IAST) corresponds to mahātejāḥ (nom. sg. m.)

Speaker and setting

Bhayanaka and Vira rasaSetting: Royal jurisdiction

The teaching

Path

Niti Ethics

Subjects

EthicsKingshipFamily lineage

Core idea

Power dynamics matter in dharma: justice administered through authority can become unyielding under anger; wise conduct includes de-escalation and avoidance of foreseeable wrath.

In practice

Do not rely on chance in dealings with authority; cultivate humility, avoid provocation, and choose routes/actions that minimize exposure to punitive power.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Dharma Discourse
• Vaishnavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It references Vaivasvata, a prominent figure associated with Manu traditions, indicating the Purāṇa’s intertextual linkage with broader Dharma and royal-ethics narratives.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name is given here; the verse only indicates “tatra” (“there”), implying a location established in the surrounding passage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It cautions about the consequences of provoking a powerful ruler, stressing prudence in situations involving authority and anger.