Varaha Purana 190.116: Adhyaya 190, Shloka 116

Determinative Exposition on Śrāddha and the Pitṛyajña

Ancestral Offering

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणस्य च हस्ते तु दद्यादक्षय्यमात्मवान् ॥ दक्षिणाभिः प्रतोष्यापि स्वस्ति वाच्यं विसर्जयेत् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 190.116

Transliteration

brāhmaṇasya ca haste tu dadyād akṣayyam ātmavān | dakṣiṇābhiḥ pratoṣyāpi svasti vācyaṁ visarjayet ||

Translation

ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണമുള്ളവൻ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ കൈയിൽ അക്ഷയദാനം നൽകണം. ദക്ഷിണ നൽകി സന്തോഷിപ്പിച്ച് ‘സ്വസ്തി’ വചനങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ച് വിടവാങ്ങിക്കണം.

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Word by Word

• brāhmaṇasya: of the Brahmin
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• haste: in the hand
• haste: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• akṣayyam: imperishable / inexhaustible (gift)
• akṣayyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣayya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (दक्षिणा/दानम् implied)

• ātmavān: self-possessed / mindful
• ātmavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātmavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; विशेषणम् (कर्ता)

• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: with honoraria/gifts (dakṣiṇās)
• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• pratoṣya: having satisfied
• pratoṣya: Kriyā (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु) [upasarga: pra-]
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having satisfied/pleased’

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• svasti: well-being / auspiciousness
• svasti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—उक्तिविषय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svasti (अव्यय)
• Form: Benedictive indeclinable/interjection (मङ्गलवाचक अव्यय)

• vācyam: should be uttered
• vācyam: Kriyā (क्रिया—कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) → vācya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; भावे कर्मणि—‘to be spoken’ (कर्तव्यम्)

• visarjayet: should dismiss/let go
• visarjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु) [upasarga: vi-]
• Form: Causative not; Simple verb, Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Dāna (Gift) Traditions
• Ritual Studies
• Social Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It highlights the ritualized ‘gift + blessing + dismissal’ sequence, illustrating the institutional role of dakṣiṇā and formal speech-acts in South Asian ritual economy.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is mentioned; the verse concerns interpersonal ritual protocol.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Ritual responsibility includes disciplined giving, fair honoraria, and courteous closure with well-wishing.