Varaha Purana 136.41 — Adhyaya 136, Shloka 41

A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions

Devanagari script

हतानां चैव मांसानि ये च भोज्यास्तव प्रियाः ॥ एवं सर्वैर्गणैः सार्द्धं वस तत्र सुनिश्चितः ॥

Transliteration

hatānāṁ caiva māṁsāni ye ca bhojyās tava priyāḥ || evaṁ sarvair gaṇaiḥ sārddhaṁ vasa tatra suniścitaḥ ||

Translation

Dan daging daripada yang terbunuh—yang boleh dimakan dan yang engkau kasihi—demikianlah, bersama semua gaṇa, tinggallah di sana dengan azam yang teguh.

Word by Word

• hatānām: of the slain

• ca eva: and indeed

• māṁsāni: flesh

• bhojyāḥ: fit to be eaten

• tava: your

• priyāḥ: dear/pleasing

• evaṁ: thus

• sarvaiḥ: with all

• gaṇaiḥ: gaṇas (Śiva’s retinue)

• sārdham: together with

• vasa: dwell

• suniścitaḥ: firmly resolved

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

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

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","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":"Consume only the flesh of those slain that is deemed edible/allowed, and remain at the prescribed place with firm resolve, accompanied by gaṇas (attendant hosts) as part of the expiatory regimen.","karmic_consequence":"Rule-bound restriction (yogya-bhakṣya) supports purification; transgression (forbidden flesh/indiscipline) aggravates fault and obstructs expiation."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Gaṇa-sahita-niyama (regulated expiation with attendant hosts)","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"Stability in vow (dṛḍha-niścaya) and progress toward removal of the underlying sin/impurity."}

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":"niyama and saṅga","core_concept":"Purification depends not only on the act but on regulated boundaries (what is permitted) and supportive company aligned with the vow.","practical_application":"When undertaking corrective practice, define clear permissions/prohibitions and keep disciplined companionship that reinforces the vow."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Mythic Narrative","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: Expiatory residence-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 136.44 (duration and aim: pāpa-kṣaya); Varāha Purāṇa 136.46–48 (transition to Gautama-āśrama; final purification)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grim, rule-governed expiation scene: the practitioner consumes only permitted flesh of the slain, while gaṇas stand as attendants/witnesses; emphasis on resolve and containment of impurity.","item_prompts":["gaṇas (attendant beings)","ritual boundary markers","permitted-food indication (edible flesh)","stern vow posture","night/cremation-ground ambience (if implied by broader narrative)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: gaṇas rendered with stylized forms at the margins; central figure under Varāha’s injunction; earthy reds/browns; strong narrative clarity without gore.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central figure and Varāha’s authority implied; gaṇas as decorative side figures; gold halo; symbolic platter; emphasis on ritualized, not graphic, depiction.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate depiction of attendants; restrained palette; focus on disciplined act and solemn faces; minimal background props.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative tableau with small gaṇa figures; clear separation of sacred instruction and impure act via compositional zones; subdued tones."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Severe, regulatory, slightly ominous","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"measured","voice_tone":"firm, admonitory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Śaiva Narrative Elements
• Purāṇic Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a mythic register where Śiva’s gaṇas and cremation-ground practices are narrative markers, useful for comparative study across Purāṇic and Śaiva textual traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No named place is given; “there” continues the chapter’s cremation-ground setting without further geographic specification.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The emphasis is on determination (suniścita) and adherence to a prescribed course within an expiatory framework.