Varaha Purana 208.38 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 38

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च ये ये च ततस्त्वं सुखमाप्स्यसि ॥ एवमुक्ता ततो राज्ञी राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ।

Transliteration

bhakṣyaṃ bhojyaṃ ca ye ye ca tatas tvaṃ sukham āpsyasi || evam uktā tato rājñī rājānam idam abravīt

Translation

「食べられるもの、また食するにふさわしいものが何であれ、それによってあなたは安楽を得るでしょう。」こう告げられて、王妃は王にこのように言った。

Word by Word

• bhakṣyam: food to be eaten (edibles)
• bhakṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular

• bhojyam: food to be enjoyed (meal)
• bhojyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• ye: which (those)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• ye: which (all those)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; repetition for emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tataḥ: then / thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Nominative (1), Singular

• sukham: happiness / comfort
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• āpsyasi: you will obtain
• āpsyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (आप् धातु) with ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (एवम्)

• uktā: having been spoken to / addressed
• uktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; agrees with rājñī

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः)

• rājñī: the queen
• rājñī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājñī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; object of abravīt (speech-content)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narrator (speaker not explicitly marked; narrative connective)

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":"observer","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":"household prudence","core_concept":"Provisioning and comfort are framed as outcomes of practical discernment about what is edible/appropriate—ethics includes wise consumption.","practical_application":"Choose food and resources with discernment (fit/wholesome), aligning comfort with propriety rather than excess."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Household provisioning","Narrative structure"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: None

Geographic Context

Type: niveśana/antaḥpura (palace interior)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 208.41-42 (king’s counsel); Varāha Purāṇa 208.44 (queen’s reply begins)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brief narrative bridge: the king’s statement about edible foods and comfort, followed by the queen preparing to respond.","item_prompts":["king finishing a sentence","queen turning to speak","attendants at a distance","simple food items on a tray","quiet palace chamber"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: two-figure composition with a clear turn-taking gesture, subdued ornamentation, emphasis on calm transition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: formal seated couple, slight head-turn of the queen indicating speech onset, minimal props with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: intimate court interior, delicate expressions, the queen’s raised hand indicating reply.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical indoor scene with patterned textiles, queen poised to speak, gentle narrative stillness."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative connective, calm","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"neutral, storyteller-like"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Dialogue Framing

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves culinary and classificatory vocabulary (bhakṣya/bhojya) and shows how Purāṇic narration stitches dialogue into a continuous ethical lesson.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location appears.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Comfort is linked to appropriate provisioning and practical arrangements, emphasizing wellbeing through orderly sustenance.