Varaha Purana 196.10 — Adhyaya 196, Shloka 10

Description of the City of Dharmarāja

Yama

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मभिः प्रदृश्यन्ते स्थूलाः सूक्ष्माश्च जन्तवः ॥ मया दृष्टा द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमे

Transliteration

sva-karmabhiḥ pradṛśyante sthūlāḥ sūkṣmāś ca jantavaḥ || mayā dṛṣṭā dvijaśreṣṭhās tasya rājñaḥ purottame

Translation

സ്വന്തം കർമങ്ങൾക്കനുസരിച്ച് സ്ഥൂലവും സൂക്ഷ്മവും ആയ ജീവികൾ ദൃശ്യമാകുന്നു. ഹേ ദ്വിജശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, ഞാൻ അവരെ ആ രാജാവിന്റെ അത്യുത്തമ നഗരിയിൽ കണ്ടു।

Word by Word

• sva-karmabhiḥ: by their own deeds
• sva-karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: 'स्वैः कर्मभिः'

• pradṛśyante: are seen / appear
• pradṛśyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sthūlāḥ: gross / large
• sthūlāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sūkṣmāḥ: subtle / minute
• sūkṣmāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• jantavaḥ: creatures / beings
• jantavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dṛṣṭāḥ: seen
• dṛṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś/दृश् → PPP)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकृत् (PPP) प्रयुक्तं कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'श्रेष्ठा द्विजाः'

• tasya: of that / his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pura-uttame: in the best city
• pura-uttame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: 'उत्तमे पुरे'

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue frame)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"philosophical anthropology","core_concept":"Embodiment varies by karma: beings manifest in gross and subtle modes according to their own actions.","practical_application":"Take responsibility for action; refine conduct and intention to shape future embodiment and experience."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: visionary city / subtle-perception setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 196.9 (yathākarma experiences); Varāha Purāṇa 196.12 (contemplation of results)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as narrator (not necessarily in boar form visually) addressing a ‘best of twice-born’ while pointing to a city where visible humans and translucent subtle beings coexist.","item_prompts":["teacher-figure gesturing","brahmin listener","city backdrop","semi-transparent subtle beings","contrast of gross vs subtle forms"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: iconic instructor and dvija; layered city with stylized ‘aura’ figures for subtle beings; strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold halo effects to distinguish subtle beings; richly ornamented city; dignified teacher-disciple posture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: nuanced translucency for subtle forms; calm didactic mood; refined architecture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: gentle narrative scene; subtle beings as pale washes; intimate teacher-disciple exchange."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, steady","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, authoritative, clear articulation of key terms"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Karma Theory
• Philosophical Anthropology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a layered ontology (gross/subtle) typical of classical Sanskrit thought, framed within karmic causality and eyewitness-style narration.

Which geographic location is identified?

The “excellent city of the king” is mentioned but not named; it functions as a narrative setting.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Individuals encounter manifestations aligned with their own actions (svakarma), reinforcing moral causality.