Varaha Purana 41.25 — Adhyaya 41, Shloka 25

Rite of the Varāha Dvādaśī Vow and an Exemplary Narrative on Expiation for Brahmin-Slaying

Devanagari script

इदानीं मृगचर्माणि परिधाय यतव्रताः । चरघ्वं पञ्चवर्षाणि ततः शुद्धा भविष्यथ ॥ ४१.२५ ॥

Transliteration

idānīṁ mṛgacarmāṇi paridhāya yatavratāḥ | caraghvaṁ pañcavarṣāṇi tataḥ śuddhā bhaviṣyatha || 41.25 ||

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ മൃഗചർമ്മം ധരിച്ചു നിയന്ത്രിത വ്രതങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് അഞ്ചു വർഷം ജീവിക്കൂ; അതിനുശേഷം നിങ്ങൾ ശുദ്ധരാകും.

Word by Word

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• mṛga-carmāṇi: deer-skins
• mṛga-carmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + carman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• paridhāya: having put on / wearing
• paridhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhā (धातु) with pari-
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)

• yata-vratāḥ: you who are disciplined in vows
• yata-vratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √yam) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘whose vows are restrained/observed’

• caradhvam: practice / wander / live
• caradhvam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• pañca-varṣāṇi: for five years
• pañca-varṣāṇi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); duration accusative

• tataḥ: then / thereafter
• tataḥ: Kārya-krama (क्रम/अनन्तरता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• śuddhāḥ: purified
• śuddhāḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective

• bhaviṣyatha: you will become
• bhaviṣyatha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Varāha (default instructional voice within the Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"For the sin of killing deer, undertake a five-year purificatory discipline: wear deer-skins and live under restrained vows (yata-vrata) until purification is attained.","karmic_consequence":"Observance leads to śuddhi (purification) and restoration of dharma; refusal or laxity prolongs impurity and karmic liability."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Pañcavarṣa-yata-vrata (five-year ascetic expiation)","tithi_month":"Not tithi-bound; duration-based prāyaścitta","promised_fruit":"Śuddhi (purification), pacification of pāpa from हिंsā, eligibility to resume dharmic life."}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Transformative discipline (tapas)","core_concept":"Purification is achieved by sustained re-patterning of life—external austerity supporting internal restraint and remorse.","practical_application":"Adopt time-bound, measurable disciplines (diet, clothing simplicity, vows, reduced harm) to correct entrenched tendencies."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Ascetic Discipline"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-ethical prescription (not site-specific)

Cross References

Related Themes: 41.41.26 (implementation: forest entry and japa)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An authoritative instruction is given: the youths are to don deer-skins and undertake a disciplined five-year vow for purification.","item_prompts":["deer-skin garments (mṛgacarma)","teacher figure delivering injunction","counting of years implied (five marks/knots)","austere setting suggesting vrata"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: instructional tableau with clear gestures of command and acceptance, stylized deer-skin texture, calm śānta palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: formal decree scene—teacher central with halo, youths receiving instruction, gold detailing on garments and sacred objects, symbolic ‘five’ motif in border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined depiction of mṛgacarma drape, subtle expressions of resolve, balanced composition emphasizing discipline.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative clarity with a gentle forest backdrop, youths shown preparing to depart, symbolic five-year motif via five trees or five prayer-beads highlighted."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic and calming","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, authoritative, reassuring"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Dharmaśāstra Interface
• Vaishnavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic model of prāyaścitta (atonement/purification) using time-bound ascetic observances, aligning narrative instruction with Dharma-oriented disciplinary norms found across late-classical Sanskrit literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified in this verse; it focuses on a prescribed practice (vow and duration) rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes disciplined self-regulation (yata-vrata) and sustained observance over time as a method for personal purification.