Varaha Purana 202.44: Adhyaya 202, Shloka 44

Description of Infernal Punishments and the Ripening of Karmic Consequences

Uttara Bhāga · Karmavipāka and Naraka (Ethical Retribution Narratives)

Devanagari script

वृक्षशाखावलम्बोऽत्र ह्यधःशीर्षः प्रजायते ॥ अग्निना पच्यतां पश्चाल्लुब्धो वै पुरुषाधमः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 202.44

Transliteration

vṛkṣaśākhāvalambo'tra hy adhaḥśīrṣaḥ prajāyate || agninā pacyatāṃ paścāl lubdho vai puruṣādhamaḥ ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

यहाँ वो पेड़ की डाल से लटक के पैदा होता है, सिर नीचे करके। फिर आग में पकता है। यह लालच वाला बुरा आदमी है।

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Word by Word

• वृक्षशाखावलम्बः: one hanging from a tree-branch
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृक्षस्य शाखायाम् अवलम्बः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: वृक्ष + शाखा + अवलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)

• अत्र: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Root: हि (अव्यय)

• अधःशीर्षः: head-down
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (head-down)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: अधःशीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; अधः + शीर्ष)

• प्रजायते: is born/comes into being
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: प्र√जन् (धातु)

• अग्निना: by fire
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

• पच्यताम्: let (him) be cooked
• Type: Verb
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: √पच् (धातु)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)
• Role: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)

• लुब्धः: greedy
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √लुभ् + क्त)

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Root: वै (अव्यय)

• पुरुषाधमः: the worst of men
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (lowest of men)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: पुरुषाधम (प्रातिपदिक; पुरुष + अधम)

Sandhi Notes

• अवलम्बोऽत्र = अवलम्बः + अत्र (ओऽ)
• ह्यधःशीर्षः = हि + अधःशीर्षः
• पश्चाल्लुब्धः = पश्चात् + लुब्धः (त् + ल् → ल्ल्)

Speaker and setting

Bhayanaka and Bibhatsa rasaSetting: Otherworld/penal cosmology

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethical deterrence via cosmology

Subjects

EthicsCosmology

Core idea

Adharma distorts the moral order; the ‘upside-down’ birth symbolizes inversion of values, culminating in fiery suffering as ripened karma.

In practice

Curb lobha through charity, restraint, and honest livelihood; contemplate consequences to prevent harm.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Naraka Imagery
• Karma Theory

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse preserves a stylized punitive iconography (inversion, suspension, and fire) common to Purāṇic naraka descriptions, useful for comparative studies of South Asian moral imagination.

Which geographic location is identified?

No earthly geography is indicated; the setting is a generalized punitive realm.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Greed is presented as a serious moral fault with severe consequences, reinforcing restraint and non-exploitative conduct.