Varaha Purana 41.21: Adhyaya 41, Shloka 21
Rite of the Varāha Dvādaśī Vow and an Exemplary Narrative on Expiation for Brahmin-Slaying
दुर्वासा उवाच । ते कदाचिद्वनं याता दृष्ट्वा हरिणपोतकान् । जातमात्रान् स्वमात्रा तु विहीनान् दृश्य सत्तम । एकैकं जगृहुस्ते हि ते मृताः स्कन्धसंस्थिताः ॥ ४१.२१ ॥
durvāsā uvāca | te kadācid vanaṃ yātā dṛṣṭvā hariṇapotakān | jātamātrān svamātrā tu vihīnān dṛśya sattama | ekaikaṃ jagṛhus te hi te mṛtāḥ skandhasaṃsthitāḥ || 41.21 ||
Durvāsā bersabda: Pada suatu ketika mereka pergi ke hutan. Melihat anak-anak rusa yang baru lahir, terpisah daripada ibunya sendiri, wahai yang terbaik antara makhluk, mereka mengangkatnya seekor demi seekor; namun anak-anak rusa itu mati, tetap berada di atas bahu mereka.
Durvāsā
FAQs
It illustrates a common Purāṇic narrative technique: ethical instruction conveyed through a brief incident, emphasizing consequences that can follow even well-intended actions within a dharma-oriented worldview.
Only a generic setting—"a forest" (vana)—is mentioned; no specific toponym appears in this verse for secure modern identification.
The verse highlights the risk of unintended harm: removing newborn animals from their natural care (their mother) can lead to fatal outcomes, implying a principle of restraint and attentiveness toward ecological relationships.
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