Varaha Purana 174.18: Adhyaya 174, Shloka 18

The Sanctifying Power of River Confluences: Release from the Preta-State and the Rite of Śravaṇa Dvādaśī with Vāmana Worship

Devanagari script

एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य नाम पर्युषितं द्विज ॥ सूचिता बहवोऽनेन विप्राश्चान्नादिकाङ्क्षिणः

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 174.18

Transliteration

etatkāraṇam uddiśya nāma paryuṣitaṃ dvija || sūcitā bahavo'nena viprāś cānnādikāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജാ, ഈ കാരണത്തെ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചാണ് എനിക്ക് ‘പര്യുഷിത’ എന്ന പേര് ലഭിച്ചത്. ഇതിലൂടെ അന്നാദികൾ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച പല ബ്രാഹ്മണരും വഞ്ചിതരായി/ഭ്രമിതരായി.

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Word by Word

• एतत्-कारणम्: this reason/cause
• एतत्-कारणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: एतस्य कारणम् = 'this cause' (object of uddiśya)

• उद्दिश्य: indicating/with reference to
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-sambandha (क्रियासम्बन्ध/Converb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having indicated/with reference to'

• नाम: namely/by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Specifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (particle: 'namely/by name')

• पर्युषितम्: ‘Paryuṣita’ (stale/kept overnight)
• पर्युषितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्युषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-प्रयोगः (as name/title)

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सूचिताः: were indicated/pointed out
• सूचिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सूच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'having been indicated'

• बहवः: many (people)
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अनेन: by this/through him
• अनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विप्राः: brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अन्न-आदि-आङ्क्षिणः: desirous of food and the like
• अन्न-आदि-आङ्क्षिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + आङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: अन्नादीन् आङ्क्षन्ति ये = 'desiring food etc.'

Speaker

Preta

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Hospitality Norms
• Moral Causality

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It illustrates how Purāṇic texts encode social ethics through name-etymology narratives, reinforcing expectations about fair giving and treatment of guests/recipients.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is identified; the verse concerns interpersonal conduct.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Misleading recipients—especially those dependent on alms—by offering inferior provisions is framed as a morally consequential act.