Varaha Purana 99.12: Adhyaya 99, Shloka 12

The Greatness and Rite of the Sesame-Cow (Tiladhenu) Gift

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां भक्तानां तु परीक्षनम् ॥ संवत्सरं गुरुः कुर्याज्जातिशौचक्रियादिभिः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 99.12

Transliteration

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ bhaktānāṃ tu parīkṣaṇam || saṃvatsaraṃ guruḥ kuryāj jātiśaucakriyādibhiḥ ||

Translation

ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य - इन तीन में से जो भक्त हो, उनको एक साल तक गुरु जी चेक करते हैं। उनका कैसा परिवार है, कैसे रहते हैं, साफ-सुथरा हैं या नहीं, यह सब देखते हैं।

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Word by Word

• brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: of Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas
• brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक) + viś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: ब्राह्मणाः च क्षत्रियाः च विशः च (genitive plural)

• bhaktānām: of devotees
• bhaktānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• tu: and / indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थक

• parīkṣaṇam: examination/testing
• parīkṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• saṃvatsaram: for a year
• saṃvatsaram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• guruḥ: the teacher
• guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• kuryāt: should do / should perform
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• jāti-śauca-kriyā-ādibhiḥ: by (means of) caste-status, purity, rites, etc.
• jāti-śauca-kriyā-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक) + śauca (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-समाहार (collective), तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); समासः: जाति-शौच-क्रीया-आदि (and the like)

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Purāṇic Studies
• Dharma Literature
• Social History of Sanskrit
• Classical Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows how Purāṇic manuals sometimes echo or adapt Dharmaśāstra-style social and purity frameworks, providing evidence for the circulation of normative categories in ritual instruction.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned; the verse concerns institutional procedure and social categorization.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It promotes regulated initiation/participation under a teacher’s oversight, framing eligibility and conduct as matters of disciplined practice within the tradition’s normative order.