Varaha Purana 208.19 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 19

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

प्रयाता गगने दृष्टा विद्युत्सौदामिनी यथा ॥ दृष्ट्वा पतिव्रतां नारीं धर्मराजेन पूजिताम् ॥

Transliteration

prayātā gagane dṛṣṭā vidyutsaudāminī yathā | dṛṣṭvā pativratāṃ nārīṃ dharmarājena pūjitām ||

Translation

Dia kelihatan bergerak di angkasa bagaikan kilat yang menyambar. Setelah melihat wanita pativratā itu dimuliakan oleh Dharmarāja, (kisah pun berlanjut).

Word by Word

• प्रयाता: having gone/flying forth
• प्रयाता: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु) → प्रयात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (Past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गगने: in the sky
• गगने: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दृष्टा: was seen/appeared
• दृष्टा: क्रिया/विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (Past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seen/appeared (as seen)’

• विद्युत्: lightning
• विद्युत्: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (simile standard)

• सौदामिनी: a lightning-flash
• सौदामिनी: उपमान-विशेषण (Qualifier of standard/उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौदामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विद्युत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/पर्याय

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: उपमान-सम्बन्ध (Simile marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया—‘having seen’

• पतिव्रताम्: the devoted wife
• पतिव्रताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः’

• नारीम्: woman
• नारीम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘पतिव्रताम्’ इत्यस्य समानााधिकरण

• धर्मराजेन: by Dharmarāja
• धर्मराजेन: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मस्य राजा’

• पूजिताम्: honoured/worshipped
• पूजिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (Past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘नारीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (implicit; default framework: Varāha)

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":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"Narrative imagery: the honored pativratā departs through the sky like lightning.","karmic_consequence":"Implicit: honor to virtue elevates and empowers; recognition of dharma yields auspicious outcomes."}

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":"exemplary virtue (pativratā-tejas)","core_concept":"Dharma honored becomes luminous and swift-moving—virtue possesses tejas that transcends ordinary limits.","practical_application":"Treat ethical exemplars with public honor; cultivate integrity that generates ‘tejas’ (moral radiance) in conduct."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Narrative literature","Symbolic imagery"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial transit

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 208: departure scene following counsel

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The pativratā, freshly honored by Dharmarāja, streaks across the sky like a bright lightning flash, leaving a trail of radiance.","item_prompts":["female figure in motion","lightning arc (saudāminī)","sky gradient with clouds","Dharmarāja below in gesture of honor"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized lightning band, pativratā with flowing drapery, strong outlines, minimal depth, ceremonial Dharmarāja below.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf lightning and halo, embossed radiance trail, compact composition with Dharmarāja at base.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: soft luminous streak, delicate motion lines, refined facial serenity even in movement.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: sweeping diagonal lightning across pale sky, small elegant figure, poetic negative space."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"bright, transitional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"light, vivid, slightly heightened to match the lightning simile."}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sanskrit Poetics (simile)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It demonstrates Purāṇic use of poetic simile (upamā) to mark the presence of exemplary figures and to heighten the didactic-narrative moment.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is identified; the setting is described generally as the sky (gagana).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Public honoring of ethical exemplars is portrayed as socially significant, reinforcing ideals of disciplined conduct and respect within the moral order.