Varaha Purana 17.3 — Adhyaya 17, Shloka 3
King Prajāpāla’s Visit to Sage Mahātapā’s Hermitage and the Doctrinal Praise of Nārāyaṇa
श्रीवराह उवाच । सुप्रभो मणिजो यस्तु राजा नाम्ना महामनाः । तस्योत्पत्तिं वरारोहे शृणु त्वं भूतधारिणि ॥ १७.३ ॥
śrīvarāha uvāca | suprabho maṇijo yastu rājā nāmnā mahāmanāḥ | tasyotpattiṃ varārohe śṛṇu tvaṃ bhūtadhāriṇi || 17.3 ||
Śrī Varāha bersabda: “Ada seorang raja berhati besar bernama Suprabha, lahir daripada Maṇija. Wahai yang berpinggul elok, pemangku segala makhluk, dengarlah ketika Aku menceritakan asal-usulnya.”
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Varāha addresses Earth with affectionate epithets and begins instructive narration of a king’s origin."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"attentive, receptive","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}
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":"guru-śiṣya dialogue ethic","core_concept":"Knowledge is transmitted through attentive listening (śṛṇu) within a reverent relationship between Earth (bearer of beings) and the divine teacher.","practical_application":"Cultivate śravaṇa (disciplined listening) when receiving teachings on history, dharma, and lineage; begin inquiry with humility and focus."}
Subject Matter: ["Genealogy","Kingship","Narrative framing"]
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: jijnasa
Type: dynastic/toponymic identifier
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 17.17.4-5 (Śrutakīrti and Suprabha/Prajāpāla)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śrī Varāha speaks authoritatively yet tenderly to Bhu Devi, introducing King Suprabha of Maṇija and inviting her to listen.","item_prompts":["Varāha as divine narrator (crowned, four-armed optional per iconography)","Bhu Devi seated respectfully","speech gesture (vyākhyāna mudrā)","floating name-banner ‘Suprabha’ ‘Maṇija’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Varāha in dignified stance with ornate crown, Bhu Devi seated; strong outlines; speech-scroll motif between them.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Varāha with gold halo and embossed ornaments; Bhu Devi with lotus; decorative text cartouche for ‘Suprabha’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant dialogue composition, soft gradients; Varāha’s teaching gesture emphasized; calm devotional ambience.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: hillside pavilion scene; Varāha and Bhu Devi in intimate conversation; delicate linework and pastel palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic and reassuring","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, teacherly, warm emphasis on vocatives ‘varārohe’ and ‘bhūtadhāriṇi’"}
FAQs
It functions as a narrative preface typical of Purāṇic historiography, introducing a king and signaling an ensuing account of lineage (utpatti), a common method for organizing cultural memory and political-ethical exemplars.
No explicit geographic location is named in this verse; it is a framing statement introducing a person (King Suprabha) and his origin.
The verse primarily establishes a didactic setting: attentive listening to an account of origins and exemplary rulership, rather than stating a direct ethical injunction.
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