Varaha Purana 208.24 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 24

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

पुरा कृतयुगे तात निमिर्नाम महायशाः ॥ आसीद्राजा महातेजाः सत्यसन्ध इति श्रुतः ।

Transliteration

purā kṛtayuge tāta nimir nāma mahāyaśāḥ || āsīd rājā mahātejāḥ satyasandha iti śrutaḥ

Translation

「昔、クリタユガに、愛しき者よ、ニミという名の王がいた。大いなる名声と威光を備え、真実に堅く結ばれた者として知られていた。」

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: formerly)

• कृतयुगे: in the Krita Yuga
• कृतयुगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (कृतं युगम्)

• तात: O dear (one)
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निमिः: Nimi
• निमिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/identifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशक निपात (particle indicating name: 'by name')

• महायशाः: greatly renowned
• महायशाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निमिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः कर्मधारय (महद् यशः यस्य)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Pradhāna-kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निमिः इत्यस्य विधेय (predicate nominative)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राजा/निमिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः कर्मधारय (महद् तेजः यस्य)

• सत्यसन्धः: true to his vow
• सत्यसन्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राजा/निमिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः कर्मधारय (सत्ये सन्धिः/प्रतिज्ञा यस्य = सत्यप्रतिज्ञ)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक निपात (quotative particle)

• श्रुतः: was known (as)
• श्रुतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निमिः/राजा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; 'श्रुतः' = प्रसिद्धः (known/heard of)

Speaker

Yama (Dharmarāja)

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":"None","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":"kingship ethics (rāja-dharma)","core_concept":"Satya-saṅkalpa (steadfast truth) as the radiance (tejas) of rulership, especially idealized in Kṛtayuga.","practical_application":"For leaders: keep vows, align policy with truth, cultivate moral credibility as the basis of authority."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","History (Legendary Genealogy)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: vīra

Geographic Context

Type: legendary kingdom / royal court

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 208.28 (Mithi/Janaka lineage continues)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A flashback tableau: King Nimi in Kṛtayuga—resplendent, calm, and truth-bound—seated in a luminous court.","item_prompts":["ancient king with crown and simple regal ornaments","bright, orderly court suggesting Kṛtayuga purity","symbol of truth/vow (raised right hand, oath gesture)","sages or ministers in attendance"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: idealized Kṛtayuga court with symmetrical composition; king Nimi with serene face and bold outlines; attendants in stylized rows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: king Nimi enthroned with gold-leaf arch; halo-like prabhā; rich textiles; minimal narrative clutter.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined palace scene; soft shading; intricate costume details; dignified stillness.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: pastoral-royal setting; delicate architecture; king portrayed with gentle expression; sages nearby to imply dharmic governance."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative, dignified","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, story-telling gravitas"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Genealogy
• Kingship Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It situates the account in the mythic-chronological framework of the yugas and introduces a paradigmatic king, a typical Purāṇic strategy for presenting ideals of governance.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is named yet, though the narrative soon connects to the Mithilā tradition.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Truthfulness (satyasandha) is presented as a defining virtue of exemplary rulership.