Varaha Purana 188.104 — Adhyaya 188, Shloka 104

Section on the Origin and Procedure of Piṇḍa-Rites and Śrāddha: Rules of Mourning Impurity

Aśauca

Devanagari script

पश्चात्प्रेतं विसर्ज्यैवं दद्याद्दानं द्विजातये॥ निवापमन्नमशुचिं दद्याद्वायसतर्पणम्॥

Transliteration

paścātpretaṃ visarjyaivaṃ dadyāddānaṃ dvijātaye || nivāpamannamaśuciṃ dadyādvāyasatarpaṇam

Translation

Selepas itu, setelah demikian melepaskan preta, hendaklah diberikan dana kepada seorang dvijāti (yang lahir dua kali); dan makanan nivāpa—walaupun dianggap tidak suci secara ritual—hendaklah diberikan sebagai tarpaṇa, iaitu jamuan untuk burung gagak.

Word by Word

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• pretam: the departed (spirit)
• pretam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'departed spirit/dead person'

• visarjya: having dismissed/disposed of
• visarjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: visṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from √visṛj; indeclinable verbal form

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• dānam: a gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dvijātaye: to the twice-born
• dvijātaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; 'to a twice-born (person)'

• nivāpam: funeral offering
• nivāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'funeral offering/oblation'

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• aśucim: impure
• aśucim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with implied object (e.g., nivāpam/annam as 'impure' by sense)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• vāyasa-tarpaṇam: feeding (satiation) of crows
• vāyasa-tarpaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyasa (प्रातिपदिक) + tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: vāyasānāṃ tarpaṇam = 'satiation/feeding of crows'

Speaker

Varāha (implied)

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":"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":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"After dismissing the preta, give dāna to a qualified twice-born and offer nivāpa-food as crow-tarpaṇa as part of śrāddha completion.","karmic_consequence":"Proper completion yields pitṛ-satisfaction and removes preta-related inauspiciousness; omission/incorrect handling leaves the rite incomplete and sustains aśauca/inauspicious residue."}

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":"ritual-ethics (dharma as ordered reciprocity)","core_concept":"Dharma integrates humans, ancestors, and other beings; even ‘aśuci’ nivāpa becomes sacred when placed in the correct ritual channel.","practical_application":"Complete śrāddha with (1) preta-visarjana, (2) dāna to a qualified dvija, and (3) crow-feeding as tarpaṇa, maintaining intention and sequence."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Studies","Cultural Heritage"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: surrounding śrāddha/āśauca discussion in adhyāya 188 (contextual continuity)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha scene after preta-dismissal: the officiant completes dāna to a dvija while placing nivāpa-food outside for crows, who gather to feed.","item_prompts":["household altar/kuśa grass","piṇḍa remnants or offering plates","dvija recipient receiving dāna (cloth/coins/food)","separate leaf-plate with nivāpa","crows approaching/eating","water vessel for tarpaṇa"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Flat, saturated palette; stylized dvija and householder; crows in rhythmic cluster; clear ritual implements (kuśa, pātra, kamaṇḍalu).","tanjore_prompt":"Central figures with gold-leaf highlights on vessels and garments; ornate borders; crow-feeding shown at lower register with gilded accents on plates.","mysore_prompt":"Refined linework; soft shading; domestic courtyard realism; emphasis on gesture of giving and the crow-bali plate.","pahari_prompt":"Himalayan miniature style; architectural courtyard; delicate birds; narrative split: dāna indoors, crow-tarpaṇa at threshold."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn, procedural, purificatory","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"measured","voice_tone":"steady, instructive, low resonance"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Śrāddha Traditions
• Food Offerings
• Ritual Ecology (birds in rite)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a sequence that includes dāna and vāyasa-tarpaṇa, offering evidence for how Purāṇic śrāddha integrated human recipients and non-human participants (birds) in ritual practice.

Which geographic location is identified?

None; the verse specifies actions and recipients rather than a named site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Complete the rite with orderly follow-up acts: donation to a qualified recipient and proper disposal/offering of nivāpa food.