Varaha Purana 136.75 — Adhyaya 136, Shloka 75

A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions

Devanagari script

यः पारक्येण वस्त्रेण न धूतेन च माधवि ॥ प्रायश्चित्ती भवेनमूर्खो मम कर्मपरायणः ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ pārakyena vastreṇa na dhūtena ca mādhavi | prāyaścittī bhaven mūrkho mama karmaparāyaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Wahai Mādhavī, sesiapa yang berbuat dengan memakai pakaian orang lain dan bukan pakaian yang telah dibasuh—walaupun tekun pada amalan-ritus-Ku—menjadi orang yang wajib berprāyaścitta, seorang yang sesat dan dungu.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: one who

• pārakya: belonging to another

• vastra: garment

• na: not

• dhūta: washed/cleansed

• mādhavī: O Mādhavī (address)

• prāyaścittin/prāyaścittī: one requiring/undergoing expiation

• bhavet: becomes

• mūrkha: misguided/foolish

• mama: my

• karma-parāyaṇa: devoted to rites/acts

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"earth_rescue","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Instruction to Bhū-devī (addressed as Mādhavī) on ritual purity and fault in worship."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"attentive, receiving dharma-instruction on purity and expiation","key_question":"What is the fault and required expiation when one performs the Lord’s rites with an unwashed/borrowed garment?"}

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":"Do not perform Viṣṇu/Varāha-rites in another’s garment or in an unwashed garment; such impurity incurs prāyaścitta.","karmic_consequence":"Violation makes the worshipper ‘prāyaścittī’ (liable to expiation) and spiritually deluded despite ritual zeal."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

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":"karma-ethics in worship","core_concept":"Bhakti does not cancel basic śauca (purity); intention must be matched by correct means.","practical_application":"Use one’s own clean, washed clothing for pūjā/vrata; treat external discipline as support for inner devotion."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Purity","Prāyaścitta"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 136.84–87 (karmaphala and prāyaścitta leading to a Māgha-śukla-dvādaśī observance)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha in a calm teaching posture addresses Bhū-devī about ritual purity, with a symbolic contrast between clean folded cloth and a borrowed/soiled garment.","item_prompts":["Varāha with gentle authoritative gesture (upadeśa-mudrā)","Bhū-devī seated/listening with folded hands","two cloth bundles: one bright/washed, one dull/borrowed","pūjā items: water pot (kalaśa), conch, lamp"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: earthy reds/ochres, Varāha as divine teacher with ornate jewelry; Bhū-devī serene; emphasize clean vs soiled cloth as narrative symbols.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: gold-leaf halo for Varāha, rich textiles; highlight the ‘washed cloth’ with bright whites and gilded borders; temple-pūjā setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, restrained palette; intimate instruction scene with detailed ritual vessels and textiles.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical hillside court-like setting; Varāha and Bhū-devī in quiet discourse; cloth bundles rendered with soft shading and narrative clarity."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, cautionary","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"firm, instructive, slightly admonitory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Ritual Purity Codes
• Vaiṣṇavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records purity norms associated with ritual performance, reflecting broader South Asian material-culture ethics (cleanliness, ownership, suitability).

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Proper means and cleanliness in ritual context are emphasized; devotion alone is not presented as sufficient without correct practice.