Varaha Purana 196.10 — Adhyaya 196, Shloka 10

Description of the City of Dharmarāja

Yama

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मभिः प्रदृश्यन्ते स्थूलाः सूक्ष्माश्च जन्तवः ॥ मया दृष्टा द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमे

Transliteration

sva-karmabhiḥ pradṛśyante sthūlāḥ sūkṣmāś ca jantavaḥ || mayā dṛṣṭā dvijaśreṣṭhās tasya rājñaḥ purottame

Translation

Makhluk—yang kasar maupun yang halus—tampak sesuai dengan perbuatan (karma) mereka sendiri. Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dwija, aku melihat mereka di kota utama milik raja itu.

Word by Word

• sva-karmabhiḥ: by their own deeds
• sva-karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: 'स्वैः कर्मभिः'

• pradṛśyante: are seen / appear
• pradṛśyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sthūlāḥ: gross / large
• sthūlāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sūkṣmāḥ: subtle / minute
• sūkṣmāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• jantavaḥ: creatures / beings
• jantavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dṛṣṭāḥ: seen
• dṛṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś/दृश् → PPP)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकृत् (PPP) प्रयुक्तं कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'श्रेष्ठा द्विजाः'

• tasya: of that / his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pura-uttame: in the best city
• pura-uttame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: 'उत्तमे पुरे'

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue frame)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"philosophical anthropology","core_concept":"Embodiment varies by karma: beings manifest in gross and subtle modes according to their own actions.","practical_application":"Take responsibility for action; refine conduct and intention to shape future embodiment and experience."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: visionary city / subtle-perception setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 196.9 (yathākarma experiences); Varāha Purāṇa 196.12 (contemplation of results)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as narrator (not necessarily in boar form visually) addressing a ‘best of twice-born’ while pointing to a city where visible humans and translucent subtle beings coexist.","item_prompts":["teacher-figure gesturing","brahmin listener","city backdrop","semi-transparent subtle beings","contrast of gross vs subtle forms"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: iconic instructor and dvija; layered city with stylized ‘aura’ figures for subtle beings; strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold halo effects to distinguish subtle beings; richly ornamented city; dignified teacher-disciple posture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: nuanced translucency for subtle forms; calm didactic mood; refined architecture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: gentle narrative scene; subtle beings as pale washes; intimate teacher-disciple exchange."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, steady","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, authoritative, clear articulation of key terms"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Karma Theory
• Philosophical Anthropology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a layered ontology (gross/subtle) typical of classical Sanskrit thought, framed within karmic causality and eyewitness-style narration.

Which geographic location is identified?

The “excellent city of the king” is mentioned but not named; it functions as a narrative setting.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Individuals encounter manifestations aligned with their own actions (svakarma), reinforcing moral causality.