Varaha Purana 55.23 — Adhyaya 55, Shloka 23
Observance of the Auspicious Dvādaśī Vow and the Sacred Account of the Kubjākāmra Tīrtha
राजोवाच । पुत्रं मे देहि देवेश वेदमन्त्रविशारदम् । याजकं यजनासक्तं कीर्त्या युक्तं चिरायुषम् । असंख्यातगुणं चैव ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥ ५५.२३ ॥
rājovāca | putraṃ me dehi deveśa vedamantraviśāradaṃ | yājakaṃ yajanāsaktaṃ kīrtyā yuktaṃ cirāyuṣam | asaṃkhyātaguṇaṃ caiva brahmabhūtam akalmaṣam || 55.23 ||
രാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ ദേവേശാ, വേദമന്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ പ്രാവീണ്യമുള്ള ഒരു പുത്രനെ എനിക്കു ദയചെയ്യുക. യജ്ഞകർമ്മത്തിൽ ആസക്തനായ യാജകനായി, കീർത്തിയും ദീർഘായുസ്സും ഉള്ളവനായി, അനന്തഗുണസമ്പന്നനായി, ബ്രഹ്മഭാവത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതനായി, കല്മഷരഹിതനായി ഇരിക്കട്ടെ.”
Rājā (the King)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"What qualities should a divinely granted son possess to uphold Veda, yajña, fame, longevity, and purity?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"varnashrama","instruction_summary":"The ideal heir is envisioned as Veda-mantra proficient, yajña-oriented, virtuous, long-lived, and morally pure—linking kingship’s continuity to brahmanical excellence.","karmic_consequence":"Seeking and nurturing such qualities sustains dharma and fame; neglecting Vedic-ritual culture leads to decline of lineage and reputation."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethical ideal (puruṣārtha alignment)","core_concept":"True prosperity is virtue-qualified progeny: learning, ritual dedication, fame grounded in purity, and brahman-oriented character.","practical_application":"Educate heirs in śruti/smṛti, cultivate yajña-spirit (service and offering), and prioritize character over power."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Kingship and lineage","Vedic learning","Ritual culture"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Type: court/vision setting
Related Themes: 55.55.22 (boon offered); 55.55.24 (additional request for munipada)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king petitions the Lord for a son embodying Vedic mastery, sacrificial devotion, fame, longevity, and spotless purity.","item_prompts":["king speaking with earnest expression","deity listening, calm and pleased","visual symbols of Veda: palm-leaf, rosary","yajña symbols: altar, ladle, fire (subtle)","haloed divine presence"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: formal dialogue composition—king in añjali with expressive eyes; deity frontal with serene gaze; include stylized yajña-fire motif near the lower frame.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented deity; king with regal attire; add gold accents to Vedic manuscripts and sacrificial vessels; symmetrical temple-arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: nuanced gestures and soft colors; highlight the king’s sincerity and the sacred implements with fine detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative clarity with minimal props—manuscript and small fire-altar; gentle landscape or palace courtyard backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"supplicatory and dignified","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"earnest, respectful, steady"}
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic courtly motif: a ruler petitions a deity for an heir embodying Vedic education, ritual competence, public renown, and moral purity—ideals that parallel broader Sanskrit discourse on dharmic kingship and lineage continuity.
No geographic location is named in this verse fragment; it is a petition focused on personal and ethical qualities rather than sacred geography.
The verse foregrounds an ethical ideal of character formation: learning (Veda/mantra proficiency), disciplined ritual engagement, social responsibility (kīrti as public reputation), longevity as a blessing, and inner purity (akalmaṣa) as markers of an exemplary life.
Ask anything about this verse
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