Varaha Purana 41.28: Adhyaya 41, Shloka 28
Rite of the Varāha Dvādaśī Vow and an Exemplary Narrative on Expiation for Brahmin-Slaying
Pūrva Bhāga · Narrative Dharma and Courtly Misrecognition Episodes
ते चाप्येकतरॊर्मूले मृगचर्मोपवीतिनः । जपन्तः संस्थितास्ते हि राज्ञा दृष्ट्वा मृगा इति । मत्वा विद्धास्तु युगपन्मृतास्ते ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥ ४१.२८ ॥
te cāpy ekataror mūle mṛgacarmopavītinaḥ | japantaḥ saṃsthitās te hi rājñā dṛṣṭvā mṛgā iti | matvā viddhās tu yugapan mṛtās te brahmavādinaḥ || 41.28 ||
te chApyekatarormUle mRRigacharmmopavItinaH | japantaH saMsthitAste hi rAj~nA dRRiShTvA mRRigA iti | matvA viddhAstu yugapanmRRitAste brahmavAdinaH || 41.28 ||
वो दोनों पेड़ के पास खड़े थे, हिरन की खाल पहन के। वो भगवान का नाम जाप रहे थे। राजा ने उन्हे देखा और सोचा कि यह तो हिरन हैं। उसने तुरंत तीर चलाया और वो दोनों मर गए।
Sandhi Notes
- cāpy = ca api
- ekataror = ekataroḥ
- yugapanmṛtāḥ = yugapan mṛtāḥ
Varāha
Avidyā (mistaken cognition) can generate grave karma; outward appearance (mṛgacarma) can conceal inner brahma-vidyā.
Suspend impulsive action; verify targets/contexts; honor signs of ascetic practice (japa, upavīta/garb) even when disguised.
Misrecognition does not erase the gravity of harming brāhmaṇa-ascetics; such an act demands expiation under a guru/ṛṣi’s guidance.
Unexpiated, it ripens as brahmahatyā-like demerit (fear, downfall, hellish results); expiation restores moral order and royal legitimacy.
41.41.29 (king’s fear and brahmahatyā question); 41.41.31 (ṛṣi promises removal of pāpa)
FAQs
It preserves a common Purāṇic ethical motif: a ruler’s error in perception leading to unintended harm, used to frame discussions on restraint, verification, and accountability within rājadharma.
No explicit place-name appears in this verse; the setting is described only as “the root of a certain tree,” so a secure modern geographic identification is not possible from this fragment alone.
The verse highlights the moral risk of acting on assumption—especially by those with power—implying the need for discernment and careful verification before causing harm.
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