Varaha Purana 197.24 — Adhyaya 197, Shloka 24

The Division of the Gates of Yama’s City and the Description of the Tribunal Hall

Devanagari script

तस्य पार्श्वे मया दृष्टः कृष्णवर्णो महाहनुः ॥ उत्तमः प्रकृताकार ऊर्ध्वरोमा निराकृतिः ॥

Transliteration

tasya pārśve mayā dṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇavarṇo mahāhanuḥ | uttamaḥ prakṛtākāra ūrdhvaromā nirākṛtiḥ ||

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱରେ ମୁଁ ଏକ କୃଷ୍ଣବର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ବିଶାଳ ଜହ୍ନୁବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିକୁ ଦେଖିଲି—ଉତ୍ତମ ଦେହଧାରୀ, ସ୍ୱାଭାବିକ ଆକୃତିର, ରୋମାଞ୍ଚିତ (ଊର୍ଧ୍ୱରୋମା) ଏବଂ ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ ଦର୍ଶନୀୟ।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• पार्श्वे: at the side
• पार्श्वे: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• दृष्टः: was seen
• दृष्टः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृष्णवर्णः: dark-complexioned
• कृष्णवर्णः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्णवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: कृष्ण + वर्ण)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाहनुः: great-jawed
• महाहनुः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाहनु (प्रातिपदिक: महा + हनु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उत्तमः: excellent
• उत्तमः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रकृताकारः: of natural form
• प्रकृताकारः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृत + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासार्थः: प्रकृतः आकारः यस्य (having a natural form)

• ऊर्ध्वरोमाः: with hair standing on end
• ऊर्ध्वरोमाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्वरोमन् (प्रातिपदिक: ऊर्ध्व + रोमन)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: ऊर्ध्वाणि रोमाणि यस्य (one whose hairs stand upright)

• निराकृतिः: of remarkable/extraordinary appearance
• निराकृतिः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराकृति (प्रातिपदिक: निर् + आकृति)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (contextual; though आकृति is often feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थे ‘विशिष्ट-आकृतियुक्त’ (having a striking form)

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"Possible faint foreshadowing only via the epithet 'kṛṣṇa-varṇa' (dark-complexioned), but here it functions as iconographic description of a fearsome attendant/figure, not Kṛṣṇa avatāra."}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethical warning (implicit)","core_concept":"The moral universe includes formidable enforcers; fearsome forms near Dharmarāja symbolize the seriousness of adharma’s consequences.","practical_application":"Let the contemplation of dharma’s enforcement restrain harmful actions; cultivate self-governance before external governance manifests."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Mythic Personnel","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayānaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly court/threshold space

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: descriptions of Yama’s attendants/terrifying figures in afterlife narratives (general)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dark-complexioned, massive-jawed, bristling-haired figure stands beside Dharmarāja—imposing, naturalistic yet uncanny—framed by the austere grandeur of the court.","item_prompts":["dark complexion","massive jawline","hair standing on end (ūrdhva-romā)","intimidating stance beside a throne","shadowed aura/halo","court pillars and dim radiance"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: strong contouring, dramatic eyes, bristling hair rendered as flame-like strokes, deep reds/browns, Dharmarāja’s court hinted behind.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: fearsome guardian with gold accents on ornaments, dark body tones contrasted with gold arch, stylized bristling hair, heavy jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: controlled drama, detailed facial anatomy emphasizing jaw, subtle chiaroscuro, dignified terror rather than grotesque excess.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: compact composition, expressive face with large jaw, cool dark palette, minimal but evocative court setting."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"tense and awe-filled","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"low, weighty, slightly intensified on descriptors"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Iconographic Description
• Dharma Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies Purāṇic descriptive style (lakṣaṇa) used to mark authority or fearfulness in cosmological courts, informing studies of narrative iconography.

Which geographic location is identified?

No earthly geography is indicated; the setting remains the vicinity of Dharma-rāja in a cosmological context.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse sets a tone of moral seriousness by portraying an awe-inspiring figure associated with dharma-adjudication, without stating a direct injunction.