Varaha Purana 6.19 — Adhyaya 6, Shloka 19
The Puṇḍarīkākṣapāraka Hymn and Puṣkara Tīrtha: The Account of King Vasu’s Release from Sin
रक्ताक्षो ह्रस्वकायस्तु दग्धस्थूणासमप्रभः । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा किं करोमि नराधिप ॥ ६.१९ ॥
raktākṣo hrasvakāyas tu dagdhasthūṇāsamaprabhaḥ | uvāca prāñjalir bhūtvā kiṃ karomi narādhipa || 6.19 ||
Bermata merah dan bertubuh rendah, namun bercahaya seperti tiang yang hangus terbakar. Dengan tangan dirapatkan, dia berkata: “Apakah yang harus aku lakukan, wahai tuan para manusia?”
Unspecified figure (defaulted within the Varāha Purāṇa dialogue framework: addressed to a king; speaker not explicitly named in this fragment)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"observer","key_question":"Explicit: ‘What shall I do, O lord of men?’—a request for command/duty from the king."}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"rajaniti","instruction_summary":"A subordinate/agent approaches the king with humility (añjali) and seeks explicit instruction before acting—proper protocol in royal ethics.","karmic_consequence":"Following proper deference and command-structure supports righteous governance and reduces adharmic, impulsive action; ignoring it leads to disorder and blame for unauthorized violence."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Ethics of agency","core_concept":"Power should be yoked to rightful authority and humility; even a fearsome being must seek dharmic direction.","practical_application":"Before acting, seek clarity of duty (svadharma) and legitimate authorization; cultivate humility even when capable of force."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Kingship","Dialogue","Ritual Etiquette"]
Primary Rasa: bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: dāsya
Type: Royal encounter / courtly or roadside meeting implied
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: didactic passages on rājadharma and proper conduct of agents (general thematic parallel)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A short, red-eyed, ash-radiant figure like a charred pillar stands before the king with folded hands, awaiting orders.","item_prompts":["short stature figure","red eyes (raktākṣa)","glow like burnt pillar (dagdha-sthūṇā)","añjali-mudrā","king seated or standing in authority"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized ‘charred pillar’ sheen using dark browns and ember highlights; the king richly adorned; clear añjali gesture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: king on throne with gold embellishments; the ash-glowing figure in front with stark contrast; ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined facial expressions—fearsome yet deferential; detailed textiles for the king; subtle smoky aura around the figure.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate court scene with minimal props; expressive eyes; warm earthy palette to suggest ‘burnt’ radiance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Tense but formal","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"measured, with respectful lift on ‘kiṃ karomi narādhipa’"}
FAQs
It preserves a conventional Purāṇic narrative motif: a subordinate or awe-struck figure approaches a ruler with the respectful prāñjali gesture, framing ethical and administrative action as something to be clarified through dialogue.
No geographic location is explicitly named in this verse; the content is descriptive and dialogic rather than topographic.
The verse foregrounds humility and deference in counsel-seeking: the speaker explicitly requests instruction (“What shall I do?”), indicating that right action is to be guided by deliberation and legitimate authority.
Ask anything about this verse
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