Varaha Purana 136.18 — Adhyaya 136, Shloka 18
A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions
प्रणष्टमानसैश्वर्यो नष्टा माया च योगिनः ॥ विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा तिष्ठते स महेश्वरः ॥
praṇaṣṭamānasa aiśvaryo naṣṭā māyā ca yoginaḥ || vivarṇavadano bhūtvā tiṣṭhate sa maheśvaraḥ ||
Apabila penguasaan batin dan kewibawaan ketuanannya musnah, dan māyā sang yogin juga lenyap, Maheśvara itu tetap berdiri, dengan wajah menjadi pucat.
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Varāha continues instructive narration to Bhū-devī, describing the psychological-spiritual collapse of Maheśvara: loss of mental sovereignty, yogic māyā, and visible pallor."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"astonished and reflective; witnessing a reversal where a great deity appears diminished due to moral causality.","key_question":"How can even a ‘yogin’ lose māyā and mental lordship—what does sin do to inner mastery and divine-like agency?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"Adharma and pāpa can destroy even high attainments—mental mastery (manas-aiśvarya) and yogic powers—leading to degradation and loss of radiance.","karmic_consequence":"Loss of aiśvarya, collapse of yogic efficacy, and visible dejection (pale-faced state), implying further suffering and incapacity."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"yoga-ethics integration","core_concept":"Yogic capacities and ‘māyā’ (here: power of projection/strategic efficacy) are contingent; ethical rupture can dissolve psychological sovereignty and spiritual potency.","practical_application":"Do not equate spiritual power with moral immunity; safeguard attainments through dharma, self-restraint, and accountability."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Yoga Terminology","Psychology (mind and agency)"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 136.18 (pāpa-bandha) leading into 136.19 (aiśvarya-nāśa)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Maheśvara stands pale-faced and diminished, aura dimmed; symbols of yogic power appear broken or fading; Varāha narrates this moral-psychological consequence to Bhū-devī.","item_prompts":["Maheśvara with ashen/pale face","fading halo or cracked aura","discarded yogic emblems (rosary, meditation seat)","shattered illusion-like motifs representing ‘māyā’ dissolving","Varāha and Bhū-devī as witnessing narrators"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Maheśvara rendered with subdued colors, halo dim; stylized ‘māyā’ patterns fading; Varāha-Bhū-devī in bright, stable tones to contrast dharma vs collapse.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: reduced gold around Maheśvara to show loss of tejas; cracked ornamental motifs for māyā; Varāha’s halo prominent.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate pallor and facial expression; minimal symbolism (fading aura); contemplative composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: expressive portrait of Maheśvara with wan complexion; misty background; dissolving cloud-like māyā patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"austere, reflective, cautionary","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"low, steady, serious"}
FAQs
It integrates yoga/psychological vocabulary (mānasa, aiśvarya, māyā) into an ethical narrative, illustrating how Purāṇas blend ascetic concepts with moral causality.
No geographic location is named in this verse.
Wrongdoing is depicted as eroding inner mastery and effective agency; ethical failure has psychological and social consequences, not only external penalties.
Ask anything about this verse
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