Varaha Purana 208.3 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 3

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

विवर्णवदनो राजा प्रभातेजोविवर्जितः ॥ अचिरादेव सञ्जातः क्रोधेन भृशदुःखितः

Transliteration

vivarṇa-vadano rājā prabhā-tejo-vivarjitaḥ || acirād eva sañjātaḥ krodhena bhṛśa-duḥkhitaḥ

Translation

രാജാവ് (യമൻ) മുഖം വിവർണ്ണമായി, പ്രഭയും തേജസ്സും നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു; ക്രോധം മൂലം അവൻ ഉടൻ തന്നെ അത്യന്തം ദുഃഖിതനായി.

Word by Word

• vivarṇa-vadanaḥ: pale-faced
• vivarṇa-vadanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivarṇa + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya: vivarṇaṁ vadanaṁ yasya / vivarṇa-vadanam (pale-faced)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhā-tejaḥ-vivarjitaḥ: devoid of radiance
• prabhā-tejaḥ-vivarjitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhā + tejas + vivarjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: prabhāyāḥ tejasā vā vivarjitaḥ (devoid of radiance and splendor)

• acirāt: soon
• acirāt: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: acira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (अल्पकालात्), from acira; shortly/soon

• eva: indeed / just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• sañjātaḥ: became / arose
• sañjātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-jan (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; from √jan with prefix sam-; arisen/became

• krodhena: by anger
• krodhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhṛśa-duḥkhitaḥ: greatly distressed
• bhṛśa-duḥkhitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa + duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya: bhṛśaṁ duḥkhitaḥ (greatly distressed)

Speaker

Ṛṣiputra (contextual continuation; Yama is the subject, not the speaker)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}

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":"dharma-psychology (tejas vs krodha)","core_concept":"Krodha causes immediate tejas-kṣaya (loss of splendor/clarity), producing duḥkha and impaired discernment.","practical_application":"When anger arises, pause (kāla-vicāra), regulate breath/speech, and postpone judgment; preserve tejas as the basis of righteous decision."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Narrative Literature","Psychology of Anger"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly (naraka/dharma-sabhā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: Dharmarāja/Yama episode within the pativratā narrative arc

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Dharmarāja (Yama) sits or stands as king, but his face is pale, his usual radiance dimmed; anger and distress visibly weigh on him.","item_prompts":["Yama with royal insignia","dimmed halo/tejas","pale face (vivarṇa)","stern throne hall","attendants subdued","visual contrast: shadow over face"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Yama with dark-blue/green complexion conventions but pallor indicated by muted highlights; halo dulled; strong expressive eyes showing krodha.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: ornate throne and crown with gold leaf, but the face rendered noticeably pale; reduced brilliance in the aureole to signal tejo-vivarjana.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined court scene, subtle pallor and emotional shading, controlled depiction of anger as inner heat.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate court vignette, minimal architecture, emphasis on facial expression and the fading aura around Yama."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave, foreboding","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"low, weighty, emphasizing tejas-kṣaya"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Narrative
• Dharma (Yama as dharmarāja)
• Sanskrit Lexicography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It contributes to the literary depiction of Dharmarāja/Yama as a moral authority who is nevertheless narratively shown with human-like emotional reactions—useful for ethical storytelling.

Which geographic location is identified?

None in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Anger is presented as a force that diminishes tejas (splendor/clarity), implying the value of restraint even for figures associated with justice.