Varaha Purana 208.39: Adhyaya 208, Shloka 39
Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā
Devoted Wife
Uttara Bhāga · Royal Household Assets (Retainers and animals)
देव्युवाच ॥ भृत्यानां तु सहस्राणि तव राजन्निवेशने ॥ अश्वानां च गजानां च सैरिभाणां तथैव च ।
devyuvāca || bhṛtyānāṃ tu sahasrāṇi tava rājann iveśane || aśvānāṃ ca gajānāṃ ca sairibhāṇāṃ tathaiva ca
devyuvAcha || bhRRityAnAM tu sahasrANi tava rAjanniveshane || ashvAnAM cha gajAnAM cha sairibhAnAM tathaiva cha
रानी बोली, राजा साहब, आपके घर में हज़ारों नौकर हैं। घोड़े भी हैं, हाथी भी हैं, और भैंस भी। सब कुछ आपके पास है।
Sandhi Notes
- देव्युवाच → devī + uvāca
- राजन्निवेशने → rājan + niveśane
- तथैव → tathā + eva
Devī / Rājñī (Queen)
Pragmatic, concerned about feasibility
Given the vast household resources—servants and many animals—why adopt/claim a minimal subsistence model, and why are these resources not being used to accomplish the king’s aims?
Ethical life balances restraint with responsibility: abundance creates obligations (to servants, animals, and subjects) that cannot be bypassed by private austerity alone.
Before adopting austerities, ensure dependents’ welfare and align personal discipline with institutional duties; practice ‘responsible simplicity’ rather than performative deprivation.
Royal duty includes effective governance and proper utilization of available manpower and resources; austerity must not negate responsibility toward dependents and the functioning of the realm/household.
Proper stewardship sustains order and welfare; neglect/mismanagement burdens dependents and destabilizes dharmic kingship (implied loss of merit and reputation).
Varāha Purāṇa 208.41-42 (king’s austerity-agrarian plan); Varāha Purāṇa 208.45 (continuation listing more animals and the pointed question)
FAQs
It presents an ‘inventory’ style description (servants and high-value animals), informative for reconstructing ideals of royal establishment and resource visibility in literature.
No location is named; the setting is the king’s “niveśana” (residence/establishment).
The ethical emphasis is on recognizing existing resources and responsibilities—wealth implies obligations toward dependents and proper management.
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