Varaha Purana 21.76: Adhyaya 21, Shloka 76

The Disruption of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice, the Hari-Hara Conflict, and the Establishment of Rudra’s Sacrificial Share

Pūrva Bhāga · Philosophical-Theological Discourse (Knowledge, Lordship, and Immanence)

Devanagari script

अहं च सर्वविद्यानां पति॒राद्यः सनातनः । अहं वै पतिभावेन पशुमध्ये व्यवस्थितः ॥ २१.७७ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 21.76

Transliteration

ahaṁ ca sarvavidyānāṁ patir ādyaḥ sanātanaḥ | ahaṁ vai patibhāvena paśumadhye vyavasthitaḥ || 21.77 ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

मैं सब ज्ञान का मालिक हूँ, पहले से हूँ, हमेशा से हूँ। मैं ही सब जानवरों में उनका मालिक बन के बैठा हूँ।

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Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• सर्व-विद्यानाम्: of all sciences/knowledges
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाः विद्या:)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)

• पतिः: lord
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)

• आद्यः: first / primordial
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘पतिः’)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• सनातनः: eternal
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)
• Root: वै (अव्यय)

• पति-भावेन: in the state of lordship
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पतेः भावः)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)

• पशु-मध्ये: among the beasts
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पशूनां मध्ये)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• व्यवस्थितः: is stationed / abides
• Type: Verb
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्थित्यर्थ—“stationed/established”
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• पतिराद्यः = पतिः + आद्यः (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ)
• सर्वविद्यानां = सर्व + विद्यानाम्
• पतिभावेन = पति + भावेन
• पशुमध्ये = पशु + मध्ये

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasa

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Curious, attentive (implied in didactic cosmology/ethics frame)

What she asks

What is the ultimate source and lordship behind all vidyās (knowledges) and the ordering of beings?

The teaching

Path

Theology/metaphysics

Subjects

CosmologyEthics

Core idea

All knowledges and all embodied beings are grounded in a single primordial Lord who is their ‘pati’ (governor).

In practice

Cultivate humility in learning; align ethics and conduct with the sense of divine oversight within all life.

Symbolism of the boar

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Philosophy of Knowledge
• Puranic Dialogue

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic literary theme in which the instructing voice asserts authority over knowledge (vidyā), situating the text within classical Indian discourse on revelation, tradition, and the legitimization of teaching lineages.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it is a doctrinal statement about authority and immanence rather than a sacred-geography marker.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse frames a philosophical instruction about recognizing an overarching principle of order/authority present within living beings, encouraging a view of life as embedded in a coherent moral-cosmic structure rather than as isolated entities.