Varaha Purana 212.14: Adhyaya 212, Shloka 14
An Awakening Description within the Allegory of the Wheel of Saṃsāra
Uttara Bhāga (traditional classification; chapter-level placement varies by recension) · Tapas and Niyama (Ascetic disciplines within dharma discourse)
अब्भक्षाः वायुभक्षाश्च तथान्ये शाकभक्षिणः ॥ अतोऽन्येऽप्यतितीव्रं वै तपश्चैव प्रपेदिरे
abbhakṣā vāyubhakṣāśca tathānye śākabhakṣiṇaḥ || ato'nye'pyatitīvraṃ vai tapaścaiva prapedire
abbhakShA vAyubhakShAshcha tathAnye shAkabhakShiNaH || ato.anye.apyatitIvraM vai tapashchaiva prapedire
कुछ लोग सिर्फ पानी पीते थे। कुछ लोग हवा पीते थे। कुछ लोग सिर्फ साग-पालक खाते थे। और कुछ लोग इतना सख्त तपस्या करते थे कि बड़ा भारी था।
Sandhi Notes
- अब्भक्षाः = अप् + भक्षाः (प् + भ → ब्भ)
- वायुभक्षाः + च = वायुभक्षाश्च
- तथान्ये = तथा + अन्ये
- अतोऽन्येऽपि = अतः + अन्ये + अपि
- तपश्चैव = तपः + च + एव
Varāha
Control of intake and endurance are portrayed as means to intensify tapas and refine the mind.
Adopt proportionate self-restraint (āhāra-niyama) as a support for contemplation rather than as mere display.
Tapas is illustrated through graded ascetic diets (water-only, air-only, greens/herbs) culminating in extreme austerity as a dharmic discipline.
Undertaking regulated austerity is implied to generate tapas-śakti and inner purification; excess without discernment is not stated here.
Varāha Purāṇa: surrounding discourse on dharma/tapas in this adhyāya (contextual)
FAQs
It reflects a taxonomy of austerities preserved in multiple Sanskrit genres, documenting ideals of renunciation and bodily discipline in classical Indian culture.
No geographic identifier appears here; the verse is practice-focused.
It presents escalating degrees of self-restraint as a path associated with serious spiritual striving.
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