Varaha Purana 70.4: Adhyaya 70, Shloka 4
Nārāyaṇa as the Sacrificial Principle, Analysis of the Three Guṇas, and the Account of Delusion-Doctrines
ततः कदाचिद् बहुना कालेन नृपनन्दन । यजतो मम देवेशं यज्ञमूर्तिं जनार्दनम् । आहूता आगता देवाः सममेव सवासवाः ॥ ७०.४ ॥
tataḥ kadācid bahunā kālena nṛpanandana | yajato mama deveśaṁ yajñamūrtiṁ janārdanam | āhūtā āgatā devāḥ samam eva savāsavāḥ || 70.4 ||
ನಂತರ, ಓ ನೃಪನಂದನ! ಬಹುಕಾಲ ಕಳೆದ ಮೇಲೆ, ನಾನು ಯಜ್ಞಮೂರ್ತಿಯಾದ ದೇವೇಶ ಜನಾರ್ದನನನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಆಹ್ವಾನಿತರಾದ ದೇವರುಗಳು ಇಂದ್ರನೊಡನೆ ಒಂದೇಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದರು।
Varāha (default dialogue frame; speaker not explicit in the excerpt)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"dialogue","earth_interaction":"Varāha recounts a theophany sequence: while worshipping Janārdana as yajña-mūrti, the devas arrive—teaching Bhūdevī/a prince about divine responsiveness to properly oriented ritual."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"awed, increasingly reassured by divine order","key_question":"What happens when Janārdana is worshipped as the very embodiment of yajña—how do the gods respond?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"krishna_connection":"Janārdana epithet later strongly associated with Kṛṣṇa in epic-purāṇic usage, but here functions as general Viṣṇu title without Mathurā localization."}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Invoke devas within yajña, but recognize Janārdana as yajña-mūrti and devādhideva; proper invocation yields orderly divine attendance.","karmic_consequence":"Correct ritual orientation brings swift divine presence and harmony among devas; misorientation risks fruitlessness or mere deva-kāmyatā without highest result."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"‘Yajña-mūrti’ frames the Lord as the inner reality of sacrifice—anticipating Yajña-Varāha theology where cosmic form and ritual form coincide.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Explicit seed: Janārdana = yajña itself; devas arrive as functional powers within the sacrificial cosmos, subordinate to the yajña-person.","vedantic_connection":"Brahman/Īśvara as the substratum of ritual: the many deities are modes; the one Lord is the sacrifice’s essence and goal."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theology of worship","core_concept":"The highest object of ritual is the Lord who is the ritual; devas are attendants within that hierarchy.","practical_application":"In worship, keep the intention fixed on the Supreme (Nārāyaṇa/Janārdana) even when invoking subsidiary deities or performing formal rites."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Mythic Narrative","Theology (descriptive)","Kingship Discourse"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: ritual enclosure
Related Themes: 70.70.3 (century-long worship) leading to this divine response; 70.70.5-6 (arrival of Vṛṣabhadhvaja/Rudra-form) as continuation of the assembly
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A blazing yajña in progress; as mantras rise, devas with Indra appear in the sky/at the perimeter, converging toward the altar where Janārdana is envisioned as the sacrifice-person.","item_prompts":["fire altar with offerings","Indra with vajra among devas","celestial arrival (vimānas/clouds)","Janārdana as luminous presence above the flames","priests mid-invocation"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, crowded divine assembly descending, strong reds/oranges of fire, Janārdana as radiant yajña-mūrti above altar, rhythmic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf flames and halos, devas in tiered arrangement, Indra prominent, central yajña with embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, elegant devas with soft shading, detailed ritual implements, restrained yet luminous Janārdana presence.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style, airy sky with descending devas, stylized altar, narrative clarity, gentle palette with bright fire accent."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic narrative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"resonant, rising intensity on ‘yajñamūrtiṃ janārdanam’ and ‘āgatā devāḥ’"}
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic motif in which ritual invocation (yajña/arcana) functions as a narrative mechanism for divine assembly, illustrating how sacred rites are framed as culturally central acts within Purāṇic literature.
No specific place-name is stated in this verse; it is primarily a temporal and ritual scene-setting passage.
The verse implicitly emphasizes disciplined ritual action and reverent address—presented descriptively rather than as coercive doctrine—highlighting the cultural value placed on orderly worship and invocation.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.