Varaha Purana 170.52 — Adhyaya 170, Shloka 52
The Birth of Gokarṇa and the Fruits of Śiva Worship
including the Śukodara Parrot Episode and Hospitality Ethics
कस्त्वं कथय मे सत्यं उत्साहश्चातिथिप्रियः ।। धन्यः स मानुषो यस्य नित्यं सन्निहितो भवान्
kas tvaṃ kathaya me satyam utsāhaś cātithipriyaḥ || dhanyaḥ sa mānuṣo yasya nityaṃ sannihito bhavān
“Siapakah engkau? Katakan kepadaku yang benar. Engkau penuh semangat dan mencintai penghormatan kepada tamu. Berbahagialah orang yang senantiasa berada dalam kehadiranmu.”
Gokarṇa (inferred: direct address continuing to Śuka)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"Tell me truly who you are; your vigor and love of honoring guests suggest rare blessedness—how is such presence attained/maintained?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"varnashrama","instruction_summary":"Atithi-satkāra (honoring guests) is praised as a hallmark of dharmic character and a sign of spiritual excellence.","karmic_consequence":"Honoring guests yields merit, auspiciousness, and the grace of the virtuous; neglect or insult of guests leads to loss of merit and inauspicious results."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethical cultivation (ācāra)","core_concept":"The presence of the virtuous is itself a blessing; hospitality and energetic service are outward signs of inner dharma.","practical_application":"Practice atithi-satkāra: welcome guests, offer water/seat/food, speak kindly, and treat the guest as a carrier of dharma."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Hospitality","Dialogue (teacher-disciple dynamics)"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: householder-ascetic encounter (implied)
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 170.56 (identity inquiry); Varāha Purāṇa 170.58 (Śuka begins confession)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Gokarṇa continues his respectful questioning, praising Śuka’s vigor and hospitality; Śuka remains composed, ready to answer.","item_prompts":["water pot (arghya) symbolizing hospitality","folded hands","simple seat offered to guest","calm teacher posture","attentive onlookers"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: include arghya vessel and seat; Gokarṇa’s respectful posture; Śuka serene; warm tones and stylized ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: highlight hospitality items (kalasha, plate) with gold accents; Śuka with halo; devotional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: detailed vessels and textiles; gentle realism; quiet indoor courtyard setting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: domestic courtyard with soft colors; emphasis on gesture of offering and polite speech."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"respectful, ethical praise","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, earnest, courteous"}
FAQs
It illustrates classical norms of address (bhavān) and the valorization of hospitality as a social virtue within Purāṇic ethical narration.
No location is specified in this verse.
It commends zeal in hospitality and frames the presence of a virtuous teacher/guest as a source of human flourishing.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.