Varaha Purana 71.48 — Adhyaya 71, Shloka 48

Vision of the Trimūrti in Rudra, the Gautama Curse, the Manifestation of the Godāvarī, and the Niḥśvāsa-saṃhitā Account

Devanagari script

ऊचुर्मां ते च मुनयो भवितारो द्विजोत्तमाः । कलौ त्वद्रूपिणः सर्वे जटामुकुटधारिणः । स्वेच्छया प्रेतवेषाश्च मिथ्यालिङ्गधराः प्रभो ॥ ७१.४८ ॥

Transliteration

ūcur māṃ te ca munayo bhavitāro dvijottamāḥ | kalau tvadrūpiṇaḥ sarve jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇaḥ | svecchayā pretaveṣāś ca mithyāliṅgadharāḥ prabho || 71.48 ||

Translation

その聖仙たちは私に言った。「カリの時代には、ああ二度生まれの最勝者よ、すべての者があなたのような姿を装い、ジャター（結髪）を冠のごとく戴くであろう。だが気まぐれに、彼らはおぞましい仮装をまとい、偽りの外相の標（しるし）を帯びるのだ、主よ。」

Word by Word

• ऊचुः: they said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्श-भूत/perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• माम्: to me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• भवितारः: future ones / those who will become
• भवितारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्यय (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘those who will be’

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: द्विजाः ये उत्तमाः (‘best of the twice-born’)

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• त्वद्रूपिणः: having your form / like you
• त्वद्रूपिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: त्वद्-रूपिणः (‘having your form/like you’)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• जटामुकुटधारिणः: wearing matted-hair crowns
• जटामुकुटधारिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बहुपद): जटामुकुटं धारयन्ति इति (‘wearing matted-hair crowns’)

• स्वेच्छया: at their own will
• स्वेच्छया: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; समस्तं अव्ययवत्; अर्थः ‘स्वेच्छानुसारम्’ (at will)

• प्रेतवेषाः: wearing preta-like garb
• प्रेतवेषाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्रेतस्य वेषः (‘in the guise of spirits/pretas’)

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

• मिथ्यालिङ्गधराः: bearing false insignia
• मिथ्यालिङ्गधराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: मिथ्या-लिङ्गं धरन्ति (‘bearing false marks/insignia’)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in fragment)

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":"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":true,"topic":"varnashrama","instruction_summary":"In Kali-yuga many will imitate ascetic appearance (jaṭā-mukuṭa, external liṅga) while being ‘mithyā-liṅga-dhara’—false bearers of marks; do not equate dress with dharma.","karmic_consequence":"Mistaking hypocrisy for holiness leads to social and spiritual harm; discernment and adherence to true conduct protect dharma in Kali."}

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":"ethics / discernment (viveka)","core_concept":"Dharma is grounded in inner restraint and truthful conduct, not costume; external markers without sādhana become deception.","practical_application":"Evaluate teachers/ascetics by yama-niyama, compassion, truthfulness, and śāstra-aligned behavior; avoid being swayed by mere symbols."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Social History","Ascetic Signs and Identity","Kali-yuga Discourse"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bībhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: social-moral landscape

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 71.71.49 (request for a guiding śāstra for Kali)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A crowd of pseudo-ascetics with matted-hair crowns and assorted outward marks, some wearing eerie ‘preta-like’ disguises, contrasted with a few genuine sages.","item_prompts":["multiple figures with jaṭā-mukuṭa","false sectarian marks (tilaka/daṇḍa/kaṣāya) used inconsistently","shadowy ‘preta-veṣa’ elements","one authentic ascetic with calm aura","urban/market backdrop suggesting social spread"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: rhythmic row of ascetic figures with exaggerated jaṭā, varied marks; muted ominous palette for hypocrites, warm halo for the genuine sage.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate but slightly discordant costumes for impostors; gold used sparingly to highlight true sanctity; strong iconographic contrast between genuine and false.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: expressive faces showing greed/deceit vs serenity; detailed hair and markings; controlled chiaroscuro to suggest Kali gloom.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative miniature—village scene with many costumed renunciants; subtle satire in posture; one true muni seated under a tree."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"warning, critical","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"firm, admonitory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dharma Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic topos of Kali-yuga decline, criticizing the misuse of ascetic symbols as a marker of authority, which is relevant to the social history of religious identity and public trust.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; the focus is temporal (Kali-yuga) and ethical (false external markers).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The passage warns against evaluating spiritual or moral authority solely by outward appearance (liṅga) and highlights the ethical problem of adopting religious symbols deceptively.