Varaha Purana 6.35: Adhyaya 6, Shloka 35
The Puṇḍarīkākṣapāraka Hymn and Puṣkara Tīrtha: The Account of King Vasu’s Release from Sin
Pūrva Bhāga · Dharma and Devotional Praxis (Smaraṇa-centered instruction)
यज्ञैरिष्टं त्वयानेकैर्बहुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः । न चाहं तैरपहतो विष्णुस्मरणवर्जितैः ॥ ६.३५ ॥
yajñair iṣṭaṃ tvayānekair bahubhiś cāptadakṣiṇaiḥ | na cāhaṃ tair apahato viṣṇusmaraṇavarjitaiḥ || 6.35 ||
yaj~nairiShTaM tvayAnekairbahubhishchAptadakShiNaiH | na chAhaM tairapahato viShNusmaraNavarjitaiH || 6.35 ||
तुमने बहुत सारे यज्ञ किए थे और पंडितों को उनका पूरा पैसा दिया। लेकिन मैं खुश नहीं हुआ क्योंकि तुमने विष्णु को याद ही नहीं किया।
Sandhi Notes
- त्वयानेकैः = त्वया + अनेकैः
- बहुभिश्च = बहुभिः + च
- न चाहम् = न + च + अहम्
- तैरपहतो = तैः + अपहतः
Varāha
External dharma (yajña, dakṣiṇā) must be infused with Viṣṇu-smaraṇa to become spiritually complete.
Before/within any rite—charity, worship, duty—consciously dedicate it to Viṣṇu; cultivate nāma-smaraṇa so actions do not become mere social performance.
The verse implicitly elevates Yajña-Varāha theology: ritual (yajña) is meant to culminate in the Lord; without the deity as inner meaning, external acts are hollow.
Smaraṇa/bhakti is the prāṇa of the sacrifice.
Karma is subordinate to jñāna/bhakti orientation: action gains liberative direction when offered to the Supreme (īśvara-arpita-buddhi), otherwise it remains limited in fruit.
Sacrifices and generous dakṣiṇā are spiritually incomplete if performed without Viṣṇu-smaraṇa; remembrance is the vital inner limb of ritual.
Rites lacking Viṣṇu-remembrance fail to yield full satisfaction/fruit; devotion-integrated ritual becomes efficacious and purifying.
6.6.36 (stotra efficacy demonstrates the principle)
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic critique of ritual formalism: sacrificial performance (even with correct dakṣiṇā) is presented as incomplete without an interior discipline of remembrance, illustrating a broader shift toward integrating devotion with Vedic ritual culture.
No geographic location is named in this verse; it focuses on ritual practice and the principle of smaraṇa (remembrance).
Ritual action is framed as ethically and philosophically effective only when accompanied by mindful remembrance (smaraṇa), emphasizing inner intention and sustained recollection over external performance alone.
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