Varaha Purana 178.2: Adhyaya 178, Shloka 2

Ritual Observance for Reciting the Deeds of Śatrughna

Remembrance of the Slaying of Lavaṇa

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां मार्गशीर्षस्य उपोष्य नियतः शुचिः ॥ यः करोति वरारोहे शत्रुघ्नचरितं यथा ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 178.2

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṁ mārgaśīrṣasya upoṣya niyataḥ śuciḥ || yaḥ karoti varārohe śatrughnacaritaṁ yathā ||

Translation

മാർഗശീർഷ മാസത്തിലെ ദ്വാദശിയിൽ ഉപവാസം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച്, നിയന്ത്രിതനായി ശുചിയായി—ഹേ സുന്ദരനിതംബിനീ—വിധിപൂർവ്വം ശത്രുഘ്നചരിതം പാരായണം ചെയ്യുകയോ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ—

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Word by Word

• dvādaśyām: on the twelfth (lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (sg.); kāla-adhikaraṇa (time-locative)

• mārgaśīrṣasya: of (the month) Mārgaśīrṣa
• mārgaśīrṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (sg.); sambandha (genitive relation)

• upoṣya: having fasted
• upoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-vas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having fasted’ (upavāsaṃ kṛtvā)

• niyataḥ: disciplined, restrained
• niyataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa of implied ‘saḥ/puṁān’

• śuciḥ: pure, clean
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa of implied subject

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (sg.); relative pronoun

• karoti: does, performs
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada

• varārohe: O fair-hipped one
• varārohe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varārohā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Sambodhana vibhakti (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (sg.); संबोधन

• śatrughna-caritam: the story/deeds of Śatrughna
• śatrughna-caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक) + carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg.); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (‘of Śatrughna’ + ‘deed/story’); karma of ‘karoti’

• yathā: as, in the proper manner
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā/vidhi-arthaka (as/according to)

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Direct address to Bhū-devī (‘varārohe’) while prescribing observance; no physical interaction described."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"What is the proper observance/recitation method and timing for Śatrughna-carita, and what results follow? (Implied by the prescriptive setup.)"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"On Mārgaśīrṣa-dvādaśī, one should fast, remain disciplined and pure, and perform/recite Śatrughna-carita in the proper manner.","karmic_consequence":"Merit is implied through vrata-like recitation; explicit fruit appears to continue beyond this verse (not stated here)."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Mārgaśīrṣa-dvādaśī upavāsa with Śatrughna-carita pāraṇa/pāṭha (kathā-vrata)","tithi_month":"Mārgaśīrṣa māsa, Dvādaśī","promised_fruit":"Not specified in this verse; generally implied puṇya from upavāsa + kathā-anuṣṭhāna."}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"sādhana-discipline","core_concept":"Purity (śuci), restraint (niyata), and sacred narrative-performance (carita-anuṣṭhāna) together function as a transformative rite.","practical_application":"Observe dvādaśī with fasting and mental restraint; recite/listen to dharmic exemplars with procedural care (vidhi), not casually."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual practice","Calendar observance"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: calendar-ritual context

Cross References

Related Themes: 178.1.0 (introduction to Śatrughna-Lavaṇa narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha instructs Bhū-devī about a dvādaśī observance: a devotee fasting, clean and restrained, recites the Śatrughna story with ritual propriety.","item_prompts":["Varāha teaching gesture","Bhū-devī listening posture","calendar marker: Dvādaśī, Mārgaśīrṣa","fasting devotee with japa-mālā or palm-leaf manuscript","simple satvik offerings (water, tulasī, lamp)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Varāha addressing Bhū-devī (‘varārohe’); devotee seated with manuscript; minimalistic ritual items; strong outlines, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf halos for Varāha and Bhū-devī; devotee with manuscript; ornate frame with tithi inscription motif; luminous lamp highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: gentle, intimate teaching scene; fine textiles; manuscript detail; calm fasting ambience.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: quiet indoor satsang scene; Bhū-devī and Varāha in conversation; devotee reading; soft wintery Mārgaśīrṣa light through a window."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"austere-devotional, instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman (calm, disciplined)","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"soft but precise, vidhi-oriented"}

Tags

• Vratānuṣṭhāna
• Purāṇic Recitation
• Hindu Calendar Studies
• Textual Ritualism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects the Purāṇic practice of assigning specific calendrical occasions to narrative recitation, helpful for reconstructing historical devotional and didactic schedules.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified; the focus is on time (Mārgaśīrṣa dvādaśī) and practice (fasting/recitation).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Self-discipline (niyama) and purity (śauca) are presented as prerequisites for meaningful engagement with instructive narratives.