Varaha Purana 137.23 — Adhyaya 137, Shloka 23

The Tale of the Vulture and the She-Jackal: The Māhātmya of the Saukarava Sacred Field

Devanagari script

न त्वां वै द्रक्ष्यते कश्चिच्छयनीये महाव्रताम् ॥ एवं गच्छति काले तु तयोस्तु तदनन्तरे ॥

Transliteration

na tvāṃ vai drakṣyate kaścic chayanīye mahāvratām || evaṃ gacchati kāle tu tayos tu tadanantare ||

Translation

“Wahai yang berikrar besar, sesungguhnya tiada seorang pun akan melihat engkau di atas pembaringan. Demikianlah, apabila waktu berlalu, maka sejurus selepas itu berlakulah perkara seterusnya bagi kedua-duanya.”

Word by Word

• na: not

• tvām: you

• vai: indeed

• drakṣyate: will see

• kaścit: anyone

• chayanīye: on the bed/couch

• mahāvratām: great-vowed (fem. acc.)

• evaṃ: thus

• gacchati: goes/passes

• kāle: when time

• tu: then

• tayoḥ: of the two

• tu: and

• tad-anantare: immediately after that

Speaker

Varāha (default—speaker not explicit in the fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context

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

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"observer","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":"None","instruction_summary":"Depicts royal procession etiquette: the king is followed by the fourfold conveyance/retinue (elephants, horses, chariots, attendants), with inner-apartment women remaining within prescribed spaces.","karmic_consequence":"Properly ordered polity and disciplined retinue support rājadharma and stability; disorder signals decline of kingship (implied)."}

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":"rājadharma (implicit)","core_concept":"Social roles and ordered followership (anuyāna) sustain the king’s public function; joy arises from perceived legitimacy and auspicious order.","practical_application":"In leadership and community life, maintain clear roles, disciplined logistics, and respectful boundaries for protected spaces (antahpura)."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Narrative Structure","Courtly Culture","Temporal Sequence","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vīra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: palace/city

Cross References

Related Themes: Genealogical/royal narrative blocks surrounding the Kalinga episode (contextual continuity)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A jubilant royal procession: elephants and horses caparisoned, chariots rolling, attendants and citizens following; women of the inner palace visible only as a background presence within balconies/inner courts.","item_prompts":["caparisoned elephants","horses with banners","chariots (ratha) with standard","king (narādhipa) in center","palace balconies/inner court hinting antahpura","garlands, drums, conches"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dynamic procession with layered figures, ornate elephant trappings, rhythmic repetition, bright reds/ochres, temple-like city backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf ornaments on elephants and royal parasol; frontal king in chariot; rich jewel tones; decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant linework, detailed textiles and harnesses, balanced composition with procession depth, gentle facial expressions of delight.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: sweeping hillside/city-road composition, stylized animals, fluttering pennants, narrative clarity with minimal but vivid detail."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic, processional","suggested_raga":"Bilahari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"resonant, uplifting"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Narrative
• Classical Sanskrit
• Courtly Motifs
• Textual Transmission Issues

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It illustrates a common Purāṇic narrative technique: compressed transitions using temporal markers, which can also indicate manuscript variation or ellipsis in transmission.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name appears in this fragment; it functions as a narrative bridge rather than a geographic locator.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The phrase “mahāvratā” foregrounds disciplined vows; the verse’s ethical tone is indirect, emphasizing restraint and the social visibility (or invisibility) of conduct.