Varaha Purana 39.19: Adhyaya 39, Shloka 19

Discrimination of the Three Bodies and the Dharaṇī Vow: A Manual for Dvādaśī Observance

Pūrva Bhāga · Dharma-prakaraṇa (Dialogic Instruction on Means to Attain the Eternal Deity)

Devanagari script

अल्पायासेन लभ्येत येन देवः सनातनः । तन्मे सामान्यतो ब्रूहि सर्ववर्णेषु यद्भवेत् ॥ ३९.१९ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 39.19

Transliteration

alpāyāsena labhyeta yena devaḥ sanātanaḥ | tan me sāmānyato brūhi sarvavarṇeṣu yad bhavet || 39.19 ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Terangkanlah kepadaku secara umum jalan yang dengannya Dewa Yang Kekal dapat dicapai dengan sedikit usaha—sesuatu yang berlaku bagi semua varṇa (golongan).

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• alpa-āyāsena: with little effort
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (little effort)
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Root: alpa + āyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)

• labhyeta: might be obtained
• Type: Verb
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Root: √labh (लभ्)

• yena: by which
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• devaḥ: the God
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object of passive; obtained one)
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)

• sanātanaḥ: eternal
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)

• tat: that (means)
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• me: to me
• Type: Noun
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन (enclitic); ‘of me/to me’ (contextual)
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• sāmānyataḥ: generally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: generally/in general terms)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Root: sāmānyatas (अव्यय)

• brūhi: tell
• Type: Verb
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Root: √brū (ब्रू)

• sarva-varṇeṣu: among all social classes
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (all classes/castes)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Root: sarva + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• yat: which (practice)
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• bhavet: may be; would be
• Type: Verb
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Root: √bhū (भू)

Sandhi Notes

• अल्पायासेन → अल्प-आयासेन
• यद्भवेत् → यत् भवेत्।

Speaker and setting

Shanta rasa

Speaker

Pṛthivī

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

She asks

Her state of mind

Curious

What she asks

What is the generally applicable, low-effort means by which the eternal Deity can be attained across all varṇas?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Soteriology (universalism)

Subjects

EthicsSoteriology (means of attainment)Social Frameworks (varṇa)

Core idea

The highest attainment should have an accessible upāya not restricted by wealth, ritual capacity, or varṇa-specific privilege.

In practice

Prioritize practices open to all—inner devotion, remembrance, ethical restraint, and sincere offering—over exclusive dependence on costly rites.

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dharma Discourse

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic pedagogical theme: articulating accessible, broadly applicable spiritual-ethical practices within a dialogue format, emphasizing general applicability rather than elite restriction.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it focuses on a general inquiry about universally applicable means of attainment.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse frames an ethical-philosophical request for a practice or principle that is attainable with minimal hardship and is applicable across all varṇas, highlighting inclusivity and practical accessibility.