Varaha Purana 207.39: Adhyaya 207, Shloka 39
Section on the ‘Person’ who Entices Beings within the Cycle of Rebirth
Uttara Bhāga · Dāna–Vrata Phala (Ethics of gifts and ascetic observances)
क्रतुयष्टा दिवं याति चोपहारं च सुव्रत ॥ कृत्वा तु दशवर्षाणि नीरपानाद्विशिष्यते ॥
kratuyasṭā divaṃ yāti copahāraṃ ca suvrata | kṛtvā tu daśavarṣāṇi nīrapānād viśiṣyate ||
kratuyaShTA divaM yAti chopahAraM cha suvrata || kRRitvA tu dashavarShANi nIrapAnAdvishiShyate
जो यज्ञ करता है वो स्वर्ग जाता है और वहाँ अच्छी चीज़ें मिलती हैं। लेकिन दस साल तक सिर्फ पानी पीने वाला सबसे बड़ा होता है, अच्छे व्रत वाले।
Sandhi Notes
- चोपहारम् = च + उपहारम्
- नीरपानाद्विशिष्यते = नीरपानात् + विशिष्यते
Varāha
Attentive; weighing ritual vs tapas
How do Vedic sacrifices compare with long-term austerities in producing heavenly and other fruits?
External ritual (kratu) is efficacious, yet sustained inner mastery through tapas can be valued as a higher purifier and merit-generator.
If eligible for Vedic rites, perform them; additionally cultivate long-term restraint under guidance—valuing consistency over display.
While kratu (Vedic sacrifice) yields svarga and honor/offerings, a decade-long water-only discipline is declared superior in merit.
Sacrifice grants heaven and social-ritual recompense; sustained jalāhāra tapas yields higher excellence (viśiṣṭatva) in phala; abandoning either forfeits corresponding merit.
Merit surpassing that of kratu; excellence in loka-phala and tapas-siddhi (as implied by ‘viśiṣyate’).
Varāha Purāṇa 207.42 (triṣavaṇa, water-only); Varāha Purāṇa 207.44-45 (restraints and dāna fruits)
FAQs
It is evidence of Purāṇic revaluation where tapas-type disciplines can be presented as surpassing sacrificial merit, a theme relevant to shifts from Śrauta emphasis to broader Smārta/Purāṇic religio-ethical practice.
No geographic identifier occurs in this verse.
The verse ranks sustained austerity (a long-term water-only regimen) as especially potent, while still acknowledging sacrificial merit.
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