Varaha Purana 116.9: Adhyaya 116, Shloka 9

An Exposition on the Causes of Happiness and Suffering

Uttara Bhāga · Duḥkha (Suffering) and Its Causes

Devanagari script

उचितेनोपचारेण दुःखमोक्षविनाशनम् ।। अहङ्कारावृतो नित्यं नरो मोहॆन चावृतः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 116.9

Transliteration

ucitenopacāreṇa duḥkhamokṣavināśanam || ahaṅkārāvṛto nityaṃ naro mohena cāvṛtaḥ

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

യുക്തമായ ഉപചാരം/സേവനത്തിലൂടെ ദുഃഖനാശവും മോക്ഷപ്രാപ്തിയും സംഭവിക്കുന്നു. എങ്കിലും മനുഷ്യൻ നിത്യവും അഹങ്കാരത്തിൽ മൂടപ്പെട്ടവനും മോഹത്താൽ കൂടി ആവൃതനുമാണ്.

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Word by Word

• उचितेन: with proper
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (√उच्/वच्? here: उचित = proper) used adjectivally
• Role: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Root: उचित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)

• उपचारेण: by service/attendance
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्
• Role: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)

• दुःखमोक्षविनाशनम्: the destroyer of liberation from suffering (i.e., that which destroys release from misery)
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: दुःखस्य मोक्षः (दुःखमोक्ष) ततः विनाशनम् (दुःखमोक्षस्य विनाशनम्)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Root: दुःख + मोक्ष + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)

• अहङ्कारावृतः: covered by ego
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (√वृ/वृञ् ‘to cover’ → आवृत) ; समासः: अहङ्कारेण आवृतः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्) of नरो
• Root: अहङ्कार + आवृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)

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

• मोहेन: by delusion
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्
• Role: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)

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

• आवृतः: covered
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (√वृ ‘to cover’)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्) of नरः
• Root: आवृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• उचितेनोपचारेण = उचितेन + उपचारॆण
• चावृतः = च + आवृतः. (मोहॆन normalized to मोहेन)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Karuna rasa

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Concerned, contemplative

What she asks

How does one destroy suffering and attain liberation, and what inner veils obstruct this?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Mokṣa-śāstra (inner obstacles)

Subjects

EthicsPhilosophy

Core idea

Duḥkha ends through right observance and service, but ahaṅkāra and moha veil the person and sustain saṃsāra.

In practice

Practice humility and self-inquiry; pair devotional observance with vigilance against egoic appropriation and delusive narratives; cultivate clarity (viveka).

The Varaha avatara

Aspect

Compassion

With the Earth

Indirect: teaching meant for Earth’s hearing continues; focus is on human bondage (ahaṅkāra/moha) and remedy (proper upacāra).

Symbolism of the boar

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Indic Philosophy

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It integrates Purāṇic devotion-language with broader Indic philosophical categories (ahaṅkāra, moha, mokṣa) used across traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is identified.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Cultivate appropriate conduct and service while recognizing egoism and delusion as key obscurations that perpetuate suffering.