Varaha Purana 41.29: Adhyaya 41, Shloka 29
Rite of the Varāha Dvādaśī Vow and an Exemplary Narrative on Expiation for Brahmin-Slaying
तान् दृष्ट्वा तु मृतान् राजा ब्राह्मणान् संहितव्रतान् । भयेन वेपमानस्तु देवराताश्रमं ययौ । तत्रापृच्छद् ब्रह्मवध्याः ममायाता महामुने ॥ ४१.२९ ॥
tān dṛṣṭvā tu mṛtān rājā brāhmaṇān saṁhitavratān | bhayena vepamānas tu devarātāśramaṁ yayau | tatrāpṛcchad brahmavadhyā mamāyātā mahāmune || 41.29 ||
Melihat mereka mati—para brāhmaṇa yang teguh berikrar dan berdisiplin—raja pun menggigil ketakutan lalu pergi ke pertapaan Devarāta. Di sana baginda bertanya: “Wahai mahāmuni, adakah dosa membunuh brāhmaṇa (brahmahatyā) telah menimpa diriku?”
Narrator (default framework: Varāha → Pṛthivī)
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic ethical motif: a ruler confronted by the consequences of harm to brāhmaṇas and seeking guidance at an āśrama, illustrating the literary linkage between kingship, moral anxiety, and ascetic counsel.
The verse specifies “Devarāta’s hermitage (Devarātāśrama).” The excerpt does not provide enough internal evidence to securely map it to a single modern location; it functions primarily as an āśrama setting within the narrative geography.
The verse foregrounds accountability and recourse to learned counsel: upon witnessing grievous harm, the ruler responds with fear and seeks clarification about culpability (brahmin-slaying), emphasizing ethical self-examination and consultation with sages.
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