Varaha Purana 22.54 — Adhyaya 22, Shloka 54

Gaurī’s Rebirth, Umā’s Austerities, Rudra’s Test, and the Himalayan Wedding

Devanagari script

दुर्भगा या तु नारी स्यात् पुरुषश्चातिदुर्भगः । एतच्छ्रुत्वा तृतीयायां लवणं तु विवर्जयेत् ॥ २२.५४ ॥

Transliteration

durbhagā yā tu nārī syāt puruṣaś cātidurbhagaḥ | etac chrutvā tṛtīyāyāṃ lavaṇaṃ tu vivarjayet || 22.54 ||

Translation

Bila seorang perempuan menjadi malang dan seorang laki-laki menjadi sangat malang, maka setelah mendengar ajaran ini hendaknya pada tṛtīyā ia menjauhi garam.

Word by Word

• durbhagā: unfortunate/ill-fated (woman)

• yā: who/which

• tu: but/indeed

• nārī: woman

• syāt: would be/is to become

• puruṣaḥ: man

• ca: and

• ati-durbhagaḥ: exceedingly unfortunate

• etat: this

• śrutvā: having heard

• tṛtīyāyām: on the third (day

• lavaṇam: salt

• vivarjayet: should avoid/abstain from

Speaker

Varāha (default, speaker not explicit in excerpt)

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":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"concerned about misfortune; not explicitly described","key_question":"Implicit: What remedy counters durbhāgya (misfortune) for women and men? (Answer: tṛtīyā salt-abstinence after hearing this teaching.)"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"For those afflicted by misfortune (durbhāgya), upon hearing this teaching one should abstain from salt on tṛtīyā.","karmic_consequence":"Implied mitigation of misfortune through niyama and śravaṇa; neglect implies continued durbhāgya."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Gaurī-tṛtīyā (lavanavarjana as remedial niyama)","tithi_month":"Tṛtīyā tithi (month not specified)","promised_fruit":"Removal/softening of durbhāgya; restoration of auspicious fortune."}

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":"prāyaścitta-like remedial discipline (though not labeled)","core_concept":"Misfortune is addressed through conscious restraint and receptivity to dharma-teaching; hearing (śravaṇa) plus practice (niyama) forms a corrective path.","practical_application":"Adopt a modest, repeatable discipline (salt-abstinence on tṛtīyā) as a behavioral anchor during periods of perceived inauspiciousness."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Observance","Dietary Discipline"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-marker

Cross References

Related Themes: Builds directly on 22.22.53’s tṛtīyā lavana-varjana instruction

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic moment emphasizing remedy: figures marked by worry/inauspiciousness receive instruction to avoid salt on tṛtīyā.","item_prompts":["two devotees (woman and man) with anxious expressions","teacher indicating abstinence","simple meal set aside; salt container closed/removed","moon phase cue for tṛtīyā"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: expressive faces showing concern turning to relief; ritual lamp and plain offerings; strong contour lines and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central instructive deity/teacher; devotees at sides; gold accents on lamp/kalasha; symbolic closed salt vessel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: gentle emotional transition from worry to hope; detailed domestic shrine; restrained palette.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative vignette with hillside home; moon overhead; closed salt pot as a clear symbol; delicate gestures."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"remedial, reassuring","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"compassionate, steady"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dharma
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Āhāra-niyama

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects Purāṇic-era dharma-style guidance where ethical and ritual disciplines are linked to auspiciousness and household well-being, illustrating how everyday diet could be framed within normative cultural practice.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned in this verse fragment.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

A practical observance is stated: abstaining from salt on the ‘third’ (tṛtīyā) as a form of disciplined conduct associated with avoiding misfortune.