Varaha Purana 39.3: Adhyaya 39, Shloka 3
Discrimination of the Three Bodies and the Dharaṇī Vow: A Manual for Dvādaśī Observance
Pūrva Bhāga · Dharma-śāstric and ethical classifications (conceptual taxonomy of dharma/adharma)
प्रागवस्थमधर्माख्यं परिज्ञानविवर्जितम् । अपरं सव्रतं तद्धि ज्ञेयमत्यन्तधार्मिकम् ॥ ३९.३ ॥
prāgavastham adharmākhyam parijñāna-vivarjitam | aparaṃ savrataṃ taddhi jñeyam atyanta-dhārmikam || 39.3 ||
prAgavasthamadharmAkhyaM parij~nAnavivarjitam | aparaM savrataM taddhi j~neyamatyantadhArmikam || 39.3 ||
ਜੋ ਪੂਰਵ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ‘ਅਧਰਮ’ ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਵੇਕ-ਜਾਣ ਤੋਂ ਰਹਿਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਅਗਲੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ, ਵਰਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ, ਅਤਿ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਸਮਝਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।
Sandhi Notes
- प्रागवस्थम् → प्राक् + अवस्थम्
- अधर्माख्यम् → अधर्म + आख्यम्
- परिज्ञानविवर्जितम् → परिज्ञान + विवर्जितम्
- तद्धि → तत् + हि
- अत्यन्तधार्मिकम् → अत्यन्त + धार्मिकम्
Varāha
Curious; morally reflective about stages of life and discernment
How do earlier and later states of a being differ as adharma versus dharma, and what role do vratas/observances play in that transformation?
Adharma is linked with a prior state lacking discriminative knowledge (parijñāna); dharma is linked with a later, cultivated state supported by vrata (regulated observance).
Move from impulsive habit to regulated practice: adopt concrete observances (truthfulness, restraint, fasting/ritual discipline as appropriate) to stabilize discernment and reorient karma.
An earlier, undiscerning condition is characterized as adharma; a later condition aligned with observances (vrata) is to be recognized as highly dharmic.
Undiscerning conduct entrenches adharma and its painful fruition; adopting vrata-guided discipline elevates one toward dharmic fruition and eligibility for higher knowledge.
Supreme dharmic alignment, purification of conduct, and readiness for higher discernment (parijñāna).
39.39.6 (wholesome conduct, tapas, ārjava establishing a dharma-body); 39.39.5 (prior violent disposition forming a ‘pāpa-body’)
FAQs
It reflects a Purāṇic mode of ethical taxonomy, distinguishing states of conduct by the presence or absence of discernment (parijñāna) and disciplined observance (vrata), a common didactic strategy in medieval Sanskrit literature.
No geographic location is referenced in this verse fragment; it is primarily conceptual and ethical rather than topographical.
The verse contrasts an earlier, non-discerning condition labeled as adharma with a later condition characterized by disciplined observances (vratas), presenting the latter as strongly aligned with dharma.
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