Varaha Purana 116.13: Adhyaya 116, Shloka 13

An Exposition on the Causes of Happiness and Suffering

Uttara Bhāga · Ethical Vices and Social Harm

Devanagari script

परोपतापी मन्दात्मा ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ।। अकृत्वा पुष्कलं कर्म गृहे संवसते नरः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 116.13

Transliteration

paropatāpī mandātmā tato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim || akṛtvā puṣkalaṃ karma gṛhe saṃvasate naraḥ

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

他者を苦しめ、心の卑しい者に、これより痛ましいことがあろうか。さらに、十分に尊い行いをなさず、ただ家に住み続ける人は…

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• परोपतापी: tormenting others
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: परस्य उपतापः यस्य/परान् उपतापयति इति (here: ‘one who torments others’)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्) of मन्दात्मा/नरः
• Root: पर + उपतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• मन्दात्मा: a dull-minded person
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: मन्दः आत्मा (कर्मधारय)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: मन्द + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• ततः: therefore/from that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्ययम्; हेत्वर्थे/अपादानार्थे
• Role: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• दुःखतरम्: more painful
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; comparative
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Root: दुःखतर (प्रातिपदिक)

• नु: indeed/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निपातः; प्रश्न/बलार्थक
• Role: Prayojaka particle (निपात)
• Root: नु (अव्यय)

• किम्: what?
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: Predicate (विधेय)
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• अकृत्वा: without doing
• Type: Verb
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; अकृत्वा = न कृत्वा (without doing)
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Root: √कृ (धातु)

• पुष्कलम्: abundant/great
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्म विशेषणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्) of कर्म
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)

• कर्म: work/deed
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• गृहे: in the house
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)

• संवसते: dwells/lives
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: सम्√वस् (धातु)

• नरः: a man
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• compounds: परोपतापी, मन्दात्मा

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Karuna rasaSetting: Domestic/social sphere

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Puruṣārtha orientation

Subjects

Ethics

Core idea

Human birth demands purposeful karma aligned with dharma; harming others and living aimlessly are forms of spiritual suicide.

In practice

Adopt ahiṃsā in speech/action; schedule regular seva/dāna; pursue svadharma projects (care of dependents, study, worship, community support).

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ethics
• Social Conduct

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It aligns Purāṇic moral teaching with broader Indian ethical ideals: non-harm, constructive action, and responsible household life.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is identified.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Avoid harming others and cultivate meaningful action rather than idle domestic existence.