Varaha Purana 21.54 — Adhyaya 21, Shloka 54

The Disruption of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice, the Hari–Hara Conflict, and the Establishment of Rudra’s Sacrificial Share

Devanagari script

एकं खङ्गकरं तत्र तथान्यं दण्डधारिणम् । एकं कौस्तुभदीप्ताङ्गमन्यं भूतिविभूषितम् ॥ २१.५५ ॥

Transliteration

ekaṃ khaṅgakaraṃ tatra tathānyaṃ daṇḍadhāriṇam | ekaṃ kaustubhadīptāṅgam anyaṃ bhūtivibhūṣitam || 21.55 ||

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ଜଣେ ଖଡ୍ଗ ଧରିଥିଲେ, ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟଜଣେ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଧାରଣ କରିଥିଲେ। ଜଣଙ୍କ ଦେହ କୌସ୍ତୁଭ ମଣିର ଦୀପ୍ତିରେ ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ ଥିଲା, ଅନ୍ୟଜଣେ ଭସ୍ମ-ବିଭୂତିରେ ଭୂଷିତ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• ekam: one (of them)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (एक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; “one (of them)”

• khaṅga-karam: holding a sword
• khaṅga-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaṅga + kara (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष—“having a sword in hand / sword-handed” qualifying ekam

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (तत्र अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; locative adverb

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb/particle (तथा=likewise)

• anyam: another (of them)
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular; “another (one)” (object of implied ‘saw/there was’)

• daṇḍa-dhāriṇam: bearing a staff
• daṇḍa-dhāriṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṇḍa + dhārin (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष—“staff-bearing” qualifying anyam

• ekam: one (of them)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (एक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• kaustubha-dīpta-aṅgam: with limbs radiant from the Kaustubha gem
• kaustubha-dīpta-aṅgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaustubha + dīpta + aṅga (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष—“whose body is radiant with the Kaustubha (gem)” qualifying ekam

• anyam: another (of them)
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular; “another (one)”

• bhūti-vibhūṣitam: adorned with sacred ash
• bhūti-vibhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūti + vibhūṣita (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) used adjectivally; तत्पुरुष—“adorned with sacred ash (bhūti)” qualifying anyam

Speaker

Varāha (default framework; speaker not explicit in excerpt)

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":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

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":"ethic of power and renunciation","core_concept":"Khaḍga/daṇḍa indicate punitive power; Kaustubha indicates divine splendor; bhasma indicates ascetic transcendence—together teaching that sovereignty and renunciation are both divine modes.","practical_application":"Balance worldly responsibility (daṇḍa: discipline) with inner detachment (bhasma: impermanence remembrance)."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Iconography","Material culture","Vaishnava-Shiva syncretic motifs"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: iconographic comparison frame

Cross References

Related Themes: 21.21.54 (sound/instruments); 21.21.56 (mace, ornaments, garments)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two contrasted divine presences: one radiant with Kaustubha at the chest, weapon in hand; the other marked with sacred ash, holding a staff—an iconographic diptych within the narrative.","item_prompts":["sword (khaḍga) with gleam","staff (daṇḍa) upright","Kaustubha jewel blazing on chest","tripuṇḍra/bhasma markings","contrasting ornaments: regal vs ascetic"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: jewel glow as stylized lotus-radiance; bhasma as crisp white bands; weapons simplified but iconic; rich greens/ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: heavy gold for Kaustubha and ornaments; ash markings in stark white; sword and staff embossed; symmetrical framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: nuanced jewel shimmer; subtle ash texture; elegant weapon proportions; calm but powerful faces.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative diptych with gentle landscape hints; jewel as bright focal point; ash-marked figure slightly austere, minimal ornament."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic description","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"steady, slightly emphatic on ‘kau-stu-bha’ and ‘bhū-ti’"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Iconography
• Sanskrit Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a concise iconographic catalogue (sword, staff, Kaustubha, vibhūti) that reflects how Purāṇic texts encode visual identifiers used in art history and manuscript traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it is descriptive rather than topographical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse does not present an explicit ethical injunction; its primary function is descriptive, highlighting differentiated attributes and adornments for identification within the narrative.