Varaha Purana - Adhyaya 32
Varaha PuranaAdhyaya 3233 Shlokas

Adhyaya 32: Dharma as the Bull-Form: Soma’s Transgression and the Institution of the Thirteenth Lunar Day Observance

Dharmasya Vṛṣarūpatā, Somadoṣaḥ, Trayodaśī-vrataṁ ca

Ethical-Discourse (Dharma-Theology) + Ritual-Manual (Tithi Observance)

Dalam kerangka pengajaran Varāha–Pṛthivī, bab ini menceritakan asal-usul mitos bagi tertib sosial dan bumi: Brahmā, demi melindungi ciptaan, menzahirkan Dharma sebagai vṛṣa (lembu jantan) yang mempunyai empat “kaki”, namun kaki-kaki itu berkurang dari yuga kṛta hingga kali, menandakan semakin goyahnya pemerintahan beretika. Krisis tercetus apabila Soma, mengejar Tārā (isteri Bṛhaspati/Āṅgirasa), menimpakan dosa terhadap Dharma; Dharma pun berundur ke rimba yang menggerunkan, dan kehilangan dharma menyalakan pertikaian antara para dewa dan asura. Dengan dorongan Nārada, Brahmā menemukan Dharma lalu mengajarkan pendamaian bersama melalui puji-pujian dan sanjungan suci. Pemulihan berakhir dengan penetapan trayodaśī sebagai tithi Dharma serta penamaan rimba itu “Dharmāraṇya”, menghubungkan amalan vrata pada hari bulan ke-13 dengan pemeliharaan keseimbangan kosmik dan duniawi.

Key Concepts

dharma as vṛṣa (bull) with four pādasyuga-based decline of dharma (kṛta–tretā–dvāpara–kali)trayodaśī-vrata (fast/uposatha) and expiationSomadoṣa (Soma’s transgression) involving Tārā and Bṛhaspati (Āṅgirasa)Dharmāraṇya as a sacralized forest-spacesocial stratification imagery (brāhmaṇa/kṣatra/vaiśya/śūdra) linked to dharma’s forms

In this adhyaya

People

  • VarahaSpeaksVarāha
  • BrahmaSpeaksBrahmā
  • DevasSpeaks
  • NaradaSpeaksNārada
  • PrithiviSpeaksListensPṛthivī

What happens

  1. How it opens

    In the Varāha-Pṛthivī teaching frame, the discourse turns to how Brahmā safeguards creation by embodying Dharma as a vṛṣa (bull) whose four pādas signify the supports of order; the yuga-cycle is introduced to show the gradual diminution of these supports from kṛta to kali.

  2. Stories within

    Brahmā’s manifestation of Dharma as a four-footed bull and the yuga-wise decline of the pādas; Somadoṣa: Soma’s pursuit of Tārā (Bṛhaspati/Āṅgirasa’s wife) and the resulting injury/affliction of Dharma; Dharma’s retreat into the terrifying forest and the devas-asuras conflict arising from dharma-loss; Nārada’s mediation and Brahmā’s recovery/pacification of Dharma through collective praise; Naming of the forest as Dharmāraṇya and institution of trayodaśī as Dharma’s tithi

  3. The turning point

    A dharma-crisis is triggered by Somadoṣa: Soma’s pursuit of Tārā (Bṛhaspati/Āṅgirasa’s wife) results in Dharma being afflicted; Dharma withdraws into a terrifying, dense araṇya, and with dharma’s retreat the worlds fall into nirmaryādatā (loss of boundaries), provoking devas-asuras conflict and social disorientation.

  4. How it ends

    Prompted by Nārada, Brahmā locates Dharma in the forest and directs collective pacification through stuti (praise) and recognition; Dharma is restored to his stabilizing role, the forest is sacralized and named Dharmāraṇya, and trayodaśī is instituted as Dharma’s tithi to ritually re-anchor ethical governance in recurring time.

Tirthas

Dharmāraṇya (a ‘terrifying, dense forest’ later named as Dharma’s forest); araṇya/vanam (wilderness-forest habitat) as the ecological setting of dharma’s retreat; rasātala (nether-region cosmography) is referenced as part of dharma’s pervasion.

  • DharmaranyaMain tirthaDharmāraṇya (the forest where Dharma withdrew and was pacified)
  • Aranya / vanamAraṇya / vanam (wilderness-forest setting of retreat)
  • RasatalaRasātala (nether-region referenced for dharma’s pervasion)
Recitation with translationVaraha Purana Adhyaya 32

Shlokas in Adhyaya 32

Verse 1

पूर्वं ब्रह्माऽव्ययः शुद्धः परादपरसंज्ञितः । स सिसृक्षुः प्रजास्त्वादौ पालनं च विचिन्तयत् ॥ ३२.२ ॥

Pada mulanya, Brahmā—yang tidak binasa dan suci, disebut sebagai yang transenden dan juga imanen—ketika berkehendak mencipta makhluk-makhluk pada permulaan, turut mempertimbangkan pemeliharaan serta pemerintahan mereka.

Verse 2

तस्य चिन्तयतस्त्वङ्गाद् दक्षिणाच्छ्वेतकुण्डलः । प्रादुर्बभूव पुरुषः श्वेतमाल्यानुलेपनः ॥ ३२.३ ॥

Ketika baginda sedang merenung, daripada tubuhnya—di sebelah kanan—terzahir seorang lelaki, memakai subang putih, dihiasi kalungan bunga putih serta sapuan wangi-wangian putih.

Verse 3

तं दृष्ट्वोवाच भगवान्श्चतुष्पादं वृषाकृतिम् । पालयेमाः प्रजाः साधो त्वं ज्येष्ठो जगतो भव ॥ ३२.४ ॥

Setelah melihatnya, Yang Maha Bhagavan bersabda kepada yang berkaki empat, berwujud lembu jantan: “Wahai yang mulia, peliharalah rakyat ini; jadilah yang terutama di dunia.”

Verse 4

इत्युक्तः समवस्थोऽसौ चतुःपद्भ्यां कृते युगे । त्रेतायां स समस्तृभ्यां द्वे चैव द्वापरेऽभवत् । कलावेकेन पादेन प्रजाः पालयते प्रभुः ॥ ३२.५ ॥

Setelah ditegur demikian, dia tetap dalam keadaan seimbang: pada Kṛta Yuga dia wujud dengan empat bahagian penuh; pada Tretā lengkap dengan tiga; pada Dvāpara menjadi dua; dan pada Kali, Tuhan memelihara manusia dengan hanya satu bahagian yang tinggal.

Verse 5

षड्भेदो ब्राह्मणानां स त्रिधा क्षत्रे व्यवस्थितः । द्विधा वैश्येकधा शूद्रे स्थितः सर्वगतः प्रभुः । रसातलेषु सर्वेषु द्वीपवर्षे स्वयं प्रभुः ॥ ३२.६ ॥

Prinsip/tatanan itu disebut enam bahagian dalam kalangan Brāhmaṇa; tersusun tiga bahagian dalam Kṣatriya; dua bahagian dalam Vaiśya; dan satu bahagian dalam Śūdra. Tuhan yang meliputi segala-galanya bersemayam di mana-mana; sesungguhnya Tuhan sendiri hadir di semua Rasātala serta di dvīpa-varṣa, benua-pulau dan wilayah-wilayahnya.

Verse 6

द्रव्यगुणक्रियाजातिचतुःपादः प्रकीर्तितः । संहितापदक्रमश्चैव त्रिशृङ्गोऽसौ स्मृतो बुधैः ॥ ३२.७ ॥

Ia diisytiharkan mempunyai empat bahagian: dravya (zat/substansi), guṇa (sifat), kriyā (perbuatan), dan jāti (jenis/kelas). Dan para bijaksana mengingatinya sebagai mempunyai tiga puncak: saṁhitā (bacaan berterusan), pada (pemisahan kata), dan krama (susunan berurutan).

Verse 7

तथा आद्यन्त ओङ्कार द्विशिराः सप्तहस्तवान् । त्रिबद्धबद्धो विप्राणां मुख्यः पालयते जगत् ॥ ३२.८ ॥

Demikian juga, prinsip yang awal dan akhir, yakni suku kata Oṁkāra—berkepala dua dan bertangan tujuh—terikat dengan ikatan tiga lapis; sebagai yang utama dalam kalangan Brāhmaṇa, ia melindungi dunia.

Verse 8

स धर्मः पीडितः पूर्वं सोमेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । तारां जिघृक्षता पत्नीं भ्रातुराङ्गिरसस्य ह ॥ ३२.९ ॥

Dahulu Dharma telah ditindas oleh Soma, yang perbuatannya luar biasa, ketika dia berhasrat merampas Tārā, isteri saudaranya, Aṅgirasa.

Verse 9

सोऽपायाद्भीषितस्तेन बलिना क्रूरकर्मणा । अरण्यं गहनं घोरमाविवेश तदा प्रभुः ॥ ३२.१० ॥

Kemudian, kerana takut akan yang perkasa itu yang berbuat kejam, sang penguasa berundur lalu memasuki rimba yang lebat dan menggerunkan.

Verse 10

तस्मिन्गते सुराः सर्वे असुराणां तु पत्नयः । जिघृक्षन्तस्तदौकांसि बभ्रमुर्धर्मवञ्चिताः । असुरा अपि तद्वच्च सुरवेश्मनि बभ्रमुः ॥ ३२.११ ॥

Setelah mereka (para dewa) beredar, para isteri Asura—terlucut daripada dharma—berkeliaran dengan niat merampas kediaman itu. Para Asura juga demikian, merayau di dalam istana para dewa.

Verse 11

निर्मर्यादे तथा जाते धर्मनाशे च पार्थिव । देवासुरा युयुधिरे सोमदोषेण कोपिताः । स्त्रीहेतोश्च महाभाग विविधायुधपाणयः ॥ ३२.१२ ॥

Apabila batas dan tatasusila dilanggar demikian dan dharma pun musnah, wahai raja, para Deva dan Asura bertempur, murka kerana kesalahan yang terkait dengan Soma. Wahai yang mulia, puncanya ialah seorang wanita, lalu mereka mengangkat pelbagai senjata.

Verse 12

तान्दृष्ट्वा युध्यतो देवानसुरैः सह कोपितान् । नारदः प्राह संगम्य पित्रे ब्रह्मणि हर्षितः ॥ ३२.१३ ॥

Melihat para dewa bertempur dengan para Asura dalam kemarahan, Nārada pun bersukacita, lalu mendekati ayahandanya Brahmā dan berkata.

Verse 13

स हंसयानमारुह्य सर्वलोकपितामहः । निवारयामास तदा कस्यार्थे युद्धमब्रवीत् ॥ ३२.१४ ॥

Kemudian Datuk segala alam, setelah menaiki wahana angsanya, menahan mereka lalu bersabda pada ketika itu: “Demi siapakah peperangan ini?”

Verse 14

सर्वे शशंसुः सोमं तु स तु बुद्ध्वा स्वकं सुतम् । पीडनादपयातं तु गहनं वनमाश्रितम् ॥ ३२.१५ ॥

Semua memuji Soma; namun dia, setelah mengetahui bahawa itu ialah anaknya sendiri—yang telah berundur kerana penderitaan—telah berlindung di rimba yang lebat.

Verse 15

ततो ब्रह्मा ययौ तत्र देवासुरयुतस्त्वरन् । ददर्श च सुरैः सार्द्धं चतुष्पादं वृषाकृतिम् । चरन्तं शशिसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा देवानुवाच ह ॥ ३२.१६ ॥

Kemudian Brahmā bergegas ke tempat itu, disertai para dewa dan asura. Bersama para deva, baginda melihat suatu makhluk berkaki empat berwujud lembu jantan, bergerak ke sana sini dan bersinar laksana bulan; melihatnya, baginda pun bertitah kepada para dewa.

Verse 16

ब्रह्मा उवाच । अयं मे प्रथमः पुत्रः पीडितः शशिना भृशम् । पत्नीं जिघृक्षता भ्रातुर्धर्मसंज्ञो महामुनिः ॥ ३२.१७ ॥

Brahmā bersabda: “Inilah anak sulungku, maha resi yang dikenali sebagai Dharma; dia telah sangat menderita oleh Śaśin (Bulan) ketika saudaranya hendak merampas isterinya.”

Verse 17

इदानीं तोषयध्वं वै सर्व एव सुरासुराः । येन स्थितिर्वो भवति समं देवासुरा इति ॥ ३२.१८ ॥

“Sekarang, sesungguhnya kamu semua—deva dan asura—hendaklah memberikan kepuasan (kepada pihak yang patut), agar terwujud keteguhan bagi kamu, sama rata bagi deva dan asura,” demikianlah dikatakan.

Verse 18

ततः सर्वे स्तुतिं चक्रुस्तस्य देवस्य हर्षिताः । विदित्वा ब्रह्मणो वाक्यात् सम्पूर्णशशिसन्निभम् ॥ ३२.१९ ॥

Kemudian mereka semua, dengan hati gembira, menggubah sebuah kidung pujian kepada Dewa itu, setelah memahami melalui sabda Brahmā bahawa kemuliaan-Nya laksana bulan purnama yang sempurna.

Verse 19

देवा ऊचुः । नमोऽस्तु शशिसङ्काश नमस्ते जगतः पते । नमोऽस्तु देवरूपाय स्वर्गमार्गप्रदर्शक । कर्ममार्गस्वरूपाय सर्वगाय नमो नमः ॥ ३२.२० ॥

Para dewa berkata: “Sembah sujud kepada-Mu, wahai yang sinarnya laksana bulan; sembah sujud kepada-Mu, Tuhan alam semesta. Sembah sujud kepada-Mu yang menampakkan rupa ilahi, penunjuk jalan ke syurga. Sembah sujud kepada-Mu yang hakikat-Nya ialah jalan karma, Yang Maha Meliputi—sembah sujud, sembah sujud.”

Verse 20

त्वयैयं पाल्यते पृथ्वी त्रैलोक्यं च त्वयैव हि । जनस्तपस्तथा सत्यं त्वया सर्वं तु पाल्यते ॥ ३२.२१ ॥

Oleh-Mu bumi ini dipelihara, dan sesungguhnya oleh-Mu sahaja tiga alam juga dipelihara. Manusia, tapa (tapas) dan kebenaran—semuanya dipelihara oleh-Mu.

Verse 21

न त्वया रहितं किञ्चिज्जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । विद्यते त्वद्विहीनं तु सद्यो नश्यति वै जगत् ॥ ३२.२२ ॥

Tiada sesuatu pun di dunia ini—yang tidak bergerak mahupun yang bergerak—wujud terpisah daripada-Mu. Sesungguhnya, apabila terpisah daripada-Mu, dunia ini binasa serta-merta.

Verse 22

त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानां सतां सत्त्वस्वरूपवान् । राजसानां रजस्त्वं च तामसानां तम एव च ॥ ३२.२३ ॥

Engkaulah Ātman, Diri sejati bagi semua makhluk; dalam kalangan yang suci, Engkau berhakikat sattva. Dalam kalangan yang dikuasai rajas, Engkaulah rajas itu sendiri; dan dalam kalangan yang dikuasai tamas, Engkaulah tamas itu sendiri.

Verse 23

चतुष्पादो भवान् देव चतुःशृङ्गस्त्रिलोचनः । सप्तहस्तस्त्रिबन्धश्च वृषरूप नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ३२.२४ ॥

Wahai Dewa, Engkau berkaki empat; bertanduk empat dan bermata tiga. Engkau bertangan tujuh serta mempunyai tiga sendi/ikatan; wahai Yang berwujud lembu jantan, sembah sujudku kepada-Mu.

Verse 24

त्वया हीना वयं देव सर्व उन्मार्गवर्त्तिनः । तन्मार्गं यच्छ मूढानां त्वं हि नः परमा गतिः ॥ ३२.२५ ॥

Wahai Deva, tanpa-Mu kami semua menempuh jalan yang tersasar. Kurniakanlah jalan yang benar kepada kami yang terkeliru, kerana Engkaulah perlindungan dan tujuan tertinggi kami.

Verse 25

एवं स्तुतस्तदा देवैर्वृषरूपी प्रजापतिः । तुष्टः प्रसन्नमनसा शान्तचक्षुरपश्यत ॥ ३२.२६ ॥

Demikianlah ketika itu para dewa memuji; Prajāpati yang mengambil rupa lembu jantan berasa puas, berhati tenang, lalu memandang dengan mata yang damai.

Verse 26

दृष्टमात्रास्तु ते देवाः स्वयं धर्मेण चक्षुषा । क्षणेन गतसंमोहाः सम्यक्सद्धर्मसंहिताः ॥ ३२.२७ ॥

Namun para dewa itu, hanya dengan memandang baginda, dengan penglihatan yang berlandaskan dharma itu sendiri, seketika bebas daripada kekeliruan dan teguh selaras dengan dharma yang benar.

Verse 27

असुरा अपि तद्वच्च ततो ब्रह्मा उवाच तम् । अद्यप्रभृति ते धर्म तिथिरस्तु त्रयोदशी ॥ ३२.२८ ॥

Para Asura juga bertindak demikian; kemudian Brahmā berkata kepadanya: “Mulai hari ini, wahai Dharma, biarlah Trayodaśī (hari bulan ke-13) menjadi dharma-tithi, hari pemujaan yang ditetapkan bagimu.”

Verse 28

यस्तामुपोष्य पुरुषो भवंतं समुपार्जयेत् । कृत्वा पापसमाहारं तस्मान्मुञ्चति मानवः ॥ ३२.२९ ॥

Sesiapa yang menunaikan upawāsa/pengekangan itu lalu, wahai Tuhan, memperoleh keredaan-Mu dengan sewajarnya; walaupun telah menghimpun timbunan dosa, manusia itu dilepaskan daripadanya.

Verse 29

यच्चारण्यमिदं धर्म्म त्वया व्याप्तं चिरं प्रभो । ततो नाम्ना भविष्ये तद्धर्मारण्यमिति प्रभो ॥ ३२.३० ॥

Wahai Prabhu, kerana rimba ini sejak lama telah diliputi oleh-Mu—Engkau yang merupakan Dharma—maka, wahai Prabhu, menurut nama ia akan dikenali sebagai ‘Dharmāraṇya’.

Verse 30

चतुष्ट्रिपाद् द्व्येकपाच्च प्रभो त्वं कृतादिभिर्लक्ष्यसे येन लोकैः । तथा तथा कर्मभूमौ नभश्च प्रायोयुक्तः स्वगृहं पाहि विश्वम् ॥ ३२.३१ ॥

Wahai Prabhu, Engkau dikenali oleh sekalian alam melalui Yuga Kṛta dan yuga-yuga yang lain, ketika Engkau menzahirkan diri berturut-turut dengan empat, tiga, dua dan satu ‘pāda’ (tapak/jejak). Demikianlah, di bumi—ranah karma—dan juga di langit, hampir sentiasa sibuk berkhidmat, peliharalah alam semesta ini seperti rumah-Mu sendiri.

Verse 31

इत्युक्तमात्रः प्रपितामहोऽधुना सुरासुराणामथ पश्यतां नृप । अदृश्यतामगमत् स्वालयांश्च जग्मुः सुराः सवृषा वीतशोकाः ॥ ३२.३२ ॥

Sebaik sahaja Sang Grandsire (Brahmā) berkata demikian, wahai raja, di hadapan para dewa dan asura, baginda lenyap daripada pandangan. Para dewa pula, bersama Vṛṣa (lembu suci), berangkat ke kediaman masing-masing, bebas daripada dukacita.

Verse 32

धर्मोत्पत्तिं य इमां श्रावयीत तदा श्राद्धे तर्पयेत पितॄंश्च । त्रयोदश्यां पायसेन स्वशक्त्या स स्वर्गगामी तु सुरानुपेयात् ॥ ३२.३३ ॥

Sesiapa yang memperdengarkan kisah ini tentang ‘kemunculan dharma’, maka pada waktu śrāddha hendaklah dia juga menunaikan tarpaṇa untuk menyenangkan para leluhur. Pada hari ketiga belas, dengan pāyasa (bubur susu-beras) menurut kemampuan; orang itu, yang menuju syurga, akan mencapai pergaulan para dewa.

Verse 33

सोऽपायाद् भीषितस्तेन बलिना क्रूरकर्मणा । अरण्यं गहनं घोरमाविवेश तदा प्रभुः ॥

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Inside Adhyaya 32

Tirtha focus

  • Pilgrimage MeritMerit is framed as boundary-restoration rather than mere travel: approaching/remembering Dharmāraṇya as Dharma’s locus and honoring Dharma there (or in its ritual analogue) is presented as a means to re-establish maryādā (ethical limits), pacify communal strife, and stabilize the earth-world order.

Ritual instructions

  • Primary RitualTrayodaśī-vrata (Dharma’s tithi observance; uposatha/fast with praise and expiatory intent)
  • BenefitRe-establishes ethical boundaries (maryādā), mitigates conflict born of dharma-loss, supports social harmony across varṇa-functions, and symbolically repairs the yuga-linked erosion of dharma by recurring, time-bound recommitment.

The narrative frame

  • Dialogue ToneDidactic-purāṇic instruction with mythic etiology and ritual institutionalization; admonitory regarding transgression and restorative regarding praise/observance.

Closing phalashruti

The chapter’s implied phala centers on stability and re-alignment: observing Dharma’s trayodaśī and honoring Dharma in Dharmāraṇya restores boundaries, reduces conflict, and supports social-cosmic balance; no explicit standalone phala-verse is specified in the provided summary.

The emotional journey

  • Dominant RasaŚānta (with strong Dharmic gravity; secondary Raudra/Bhayānaka during crisis)
  • Emotional ProgressionOrder and confidence in Brahmā’s protective intent → moral shock and anxiety as Soma’s transgression harms Dharma → fear and instability as Dharma withdraws into the forest and boundaries collapse → urgency and communal tension in devas–asuras conflict → relief and calm through Brahmā-led praise and restoration → settled resolve via institutionalized trayodaśī observance.

Planning a pilgrimage

  • Visit FeasibilityTextual/sacral toponym without a single universally fixed modern identification; feasible as (a) a symbolic pilgrimage via trayodaśī observance anywhere, and/or (b) a local pilgrimage to a forest-temple complex traditionally named Dharmāraṇya in one’s region after verifying local sthala-māhātmya and tradition.
  • Best SeasonPost-monsoon to early spring (when forest travel and vrata observance are generally comfortable)
  • Related FestivalTrayodaśī observances broadly (including monthly trayodaśī fasts); locally, Dharma-focused trayodaśī or śānti rites where Dharmāraṇya is ritually remembered.

Frequently Asked Questions

The narrative models dharma as the stabilizing principle of society and world-order: when dharma is harmed or neglected, conflict and moral disorientation spread across communities (devas/asuras). Restoration occurs through recognition, praise, and regulated practice—culminating in a tithi-based observance (trayodaśī) that functions as an institutional mechanism for ethical re-alignment and communal stability.

The chapter explicitly institutes trayodaśī (the 13th lunar day) as Dharma’s tithi. It also uses yuga chronology (kṛta, tretā, dvāpara, kali) to describe the progressive reduction of dharma’s “pādas,” providing a macro-temporal frame for ethical decline and restoration.

Environmental balance is expressed through the forest motif: dharma’s withdrawal into araṇya produces a systemic breakdown (nirmaryādatā, ‘loss of boundaries’). The naming of Dharmāraṇya sacralizes a wilderness space as a locus of restoration, implying that maintaining ethical order is inseparable from maintaining stable ‘boundaries’ that also structure human–land relations.

Key figures include Brahmā (creator), Nārada (mediator), Soma (moon deity) as the agent of transgression, Tārā as the contested spouse, and Bṛhaspati identified through the Āṅgirasa lineage. Devas and asuras appear as collective polities whose conflict is triggered by dharma-loss and resolved through Brahmā’s intervention.

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