Varaha Purana 95.21: Adhyaya 95, Shloka 21
The Slaying of the Daitya Ruru, the Hymn to Cāmuṇḍā/Kālarātri, and the Doctrine of the Threefold Power
Pūrva Bhāga · Daitya’s Last Stand and Māyā
एक एव महादैत्यो रुरुस्तस्थौ महामृधे । स च मायां महारौद्रीं रौरवीं विससर्ज ह ॥
eka eva mahādaityo rurustasthau mahāmṛdhe | sa ca māyāṃ mahāraudrīṃ rauravīṃ visasarja ha ||
eka eva mahAdaityo rurustasthau mahAmRRidhe | sa cha mAyAM mahAraudrIM rauravIM visasarja ha
बस एक बड़ा दानव बचा था, जिसका नाम रुरु था। वो बड़े युद्ध में खड़ा रहा। उसने एक बहुत भयानक जादू छोड़ा जो सब को डरा रहा था।
Sandhi Notes
- rurustasthau = ruruḥ+tasthau
- mahādaityo = mahā-daityaḥ (visarga sandhi)
- mahāmṛdhe = mahā-mṛdhe
Varāha
When confronted by adharma, the subtlest danger is not strength but deception; fear-inducing appearances can derail even the prepared.
In crises, verify perceptions; maintain mantra/discipline and counsel to counter panic and propaganda-like māyā.
The lone surviving Daitya deploying māyā represents avidyā’s last stand: when brute force fails, delusion is weaponized to paralyze dharmic agency.
Rauravī māyā evokes ‘raurava’ (a hell-name) as a psychological/ritual pollution—an anti-yajña force that disrupts clarity (sattva) needed for right action.
Māyā can project terrifying appearances; discernment (viveka) is required to see through it—otherwise even ‘gods’ (higher faculties) can be stalled.
95.95.29 (māyā deludes and induces sleep)
FAQs
The motif of ‘māyā’ as a battlefield strategy is widespread in epic-Purāṇic literature and helps map shared narrative techniques across textual lineages.
No geographic site is named; the verse is situated in a generalized ‘great battle’ setting.
It foregrounds the theme that power can operate through deception/illusion, setting up later narrative evaluation of discernment and divine counteraction.
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