Varaha Purana 208.4 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 4

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

तं तथा निष्प्रभं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजं तपोधनः ॥ नारदश्चाब्रवीत्तत्र ज्ञात्वा तस्य मनोगतम्

Transliteration

taṁ tathā niṣprabhaṁ dṛṣṭvā dharmarājaṁ tapodhanaḥ || nāradaś cābravīt tatra jñātvā tasya manogatam

Translation

ധർമ്മരാജനെ ഇങ്ങനെ നിഷ്പ്രഭനായി കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, തപോധനനായ നാരദൻ അവന്റെ മനോഗതം അറിഞ്ഞ് അവിടെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• tathā: thus / in that manner
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• niṣprabham: lusterless
• niṣprabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣprabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with tam

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having seen

• dharmarājam: Dharmarāja (Yama)
• dharmarājam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: dharmasya rājā (Dharmarāja/Yama)

• tapodhanaḥ: the ascetic (rich in austerity)
• tapodhanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi: yasya dhanaṁ tapaḥ (one whose wealth is austerity)

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having known

• tasya: his
• tasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• manogatam: what was in his mind / his intention
• manogatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas + gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: manasi gatam (what has entered the mind)

Speaker

Ṛṣiputra (narration); Nārada is introduced as the next speaker

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"observer"}

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":"dialogic instruction setup","core_concept":"The wise perceive inner states (manogata) and intervene with timely speech to restore dharmic equilibrium.","practical_application":"Seek counsel from the wise when emotionally clouded; cultivate self-awareness so that correction can occur before action."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Dialogue","Narrative Literature"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly (dharma-sabhā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: transition to Nārada’s speech (vacana-prastāva)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada, the radiant ascetic-sage, observes the dimmed Dharmarāja and begins to speak, having grasped his inner turmoil.","item_prompts":["Nārada with vīṇā (iconic attribute)","gesture of address (raised hand)","Yama/Dharmarāja with dulled aura","assembly backdrop","contrast: Nārada’s calm vs Yama’s agitation"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Nārada with vīṇā in poised stance, serene face; Dharmarāja seated with muted halo; strong compositional contrast of calm and disturbance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: Nārada foreground with gold highlights on ornaments/vīṇā; Dharmarāja on throne with reduced halo brilliance; ornate arch framing the dialogue.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: elegant dialogue scene, fine detailing of vīṇā strings, subtle emotional cues, balanced composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: conversational intimacy, minimal court setting, emphasis on hand gestures and facial expressions; soft color fields."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"calming, corrective, anticipatory","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"measured, instructive"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Narrative
• Sage Traditions
• Sanskrit Discourse Markers

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It signals a shift into interrogative dialogue, a common Purāṇic method for embedding ethical and doctrinal exposition within story form.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic identification is provided; “tatra” functions as a narrative deictic (“there”).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds introspection and inquiry: recognizing disturbed mental states and seeking their causes through dialogue.