Varaha Purana 17.39: Adhyaya 17, Shloka 39
King Prajāpāla’s Visit to Sage Mahātapā’s Hermitage and the Doctrinal Praise of Nārāyaṇa
तैर्व्यपेतमपि क्षेत्रं पुरुषेण प्रपाल्यते । तं दृष्ट्वा त्वब्रवीत् स्कन्दः सोऽहङ्कारः प्रकीर्तितः ॥ १७.३९ ॥
tair vyapetam api kṣetraṃ puruṣeṇa prapālyate | taṃ dṛṣṭvā tv abravīt skandaḥ so'haṅkāraḥ prakīrtitaḥ || 17.39 ||
Walau ‘kṣetra’ itu telah ditinggalkan oleh mereka, ia tetap dipelihara oleh seorang puruṣa. Melihatnya, Skanda berkata: “Itulah yang disebut ‘ahaṅkāra’.”
Skanda
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"observer"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Ahaṅkāra is identified as the ‘maintainer’ that continues to ‘run’ the kṣetra even after other constituents withdraw—an allegory for ego-sense as the appropriator that claims continuity and ownership, sustaining worldly functioning.","vedantic_connection":"Ahaṅkāra as a mode of antaḥkaraṇa (Sāṃkhya/Vedānta): it binds the witness-consciousness to body-mind by ‘I-making’; liberation requires seeing it as an object, not the Self."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"philosophical psychology (ahaṅkāra)","core_concept":"Even when many supports fall away, ego-sense can preserve the appearance of agency and continuity; it is the key knot (granthi) of identification.","practical_application":"Observe ‘I’-thoughts as arising phenomena; practice self-inquiry and devotion to loosen appropriation and reduce ego-driven action."}
Subject Matter: ["Sacred Geography","Ethics","Heritage Sites","Philosophical Psychology"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: conceptual field (kṣetra)
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 17.17.40 (agency/ahaṅkāra claims indispensability and withdraws)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Skanda points out a lone figure maintaining the abandoned ‘field’ (body/system), identifying him as Ahaṅkāra; the scene resembles a revelation where the hidden maintainer is named.","item_prompts":["Skanda with pointing gesture","a solitary ‘man’ labeled ahaṅkāra","abandoned kṣetra/body behind","aura or subtle thread connecting ego to body","didactic setting (forest hermitage or inner-vision space)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Skanda in youthful warrior-deity form but in teaching mode; the ahaṅkāra figure centrally placed with stylized connection lines to the kṣetra; bold iconographic clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Skanda with ornate jewelry and gold halo; ahaṅkāra figure highlighted with gold outline; the kṣetra rendered as a subdued backdrop; strong frontal composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant Skanda, refined gestures; ahaṅkāra shown as subtle, almost shadow-like maintainer; emphasis on psychological nuance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate narrative—Skanda explaining to unseen listeners; ahaṅkāra as a small but central character; minimalistic background to focus on the ‘naming’ moment."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"illuminative, explanatory","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"crisp, declarative"}
FAQs
It reflects a Purāṇic concern with the continuity of sacred places (kṣetra) and their upkeep, pairing heritage maintenance with a philosophical vocabulary (ahaṅkāra) used across classical Sanskrit traditions.
No specific toponym is given in this verse fragment; it refers generically to a kṣetra (sacred region/field) without naming an identifiable site.
The verse juxtaposes stewardship of a place with reflection on ego-identity (ahaṅkāra), prompting a critical view of personal agency and self-assertion in acts of protection or maintenance.
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