Varaha Purana 142.1: Adhyaya 142, Shloka 1

The Greatness of Esoteric Practice: Menstrual Impurity, Mental Equanimity, and Seasonal Conjugal Ethics

Devanagari script

अथ गुह्यकर्ममाहात्म्यं ॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ततो देववचः श्रुत्वा धर्मकामाऽ वसुन्धरा ॥ कृताञ्जलिपुटा भूत्वा प्रसादयति माधवम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 142.1

Transliteration

atha guhyakarmamāhātmyam || sūta uvāca || tato devavacaḥ śrutvā dharmakāmā vasundharā || kṛtāñjalipuṭā bhūtvā prasādayati mādhavam ||

Translation

Sūta rzekł: Usłyszawszy słowa bóstwa, Vasundharā (Ziemia), pragnąca dharmy, złożyła dłonie w geście czci i starała się przebłagać Mādhavę (Viṣṇu).

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Word by Word

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक/आरम्भसूचक (particle/adverb: now/then)

• गुह्यकर्ममाहात्म्यम्: the greatness of the secret rite/action
• गुह्यकर्ममाहात्म्यम्: कर्म/विषय (Topic/Object of narration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य-कर्म-माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular); समासः—गुह्यकर्मणः माहात्म्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: अधिकरण (Time/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/कालवाचक (adverb: then/from that)

• देववचः: the words of the god(s)
• देववचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; समासः—देवानां वचः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); पूर्वकाले (having heard)

• धर्मकामाः: desiring dharma and kāma
• धर्मकामाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; समासः—धर्मश्च कामश्च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व), अर्थतः ‘धर्मकामेच्छा’ (desirous of dharma and kāma)

• वसुन्धरा: Vasundharā (Earth)
• वसुन्धरा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• कृताञ्जलिपुटा: with hands folded (in añjali)
• कृताञ्जलिपुटा: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-अञ्जलि-पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; समासः—कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः यस्याः (भावे/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषप्रायः; ‘with hands folded in añjali’)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); पूर्वकाले (having become)

• प्रसादयति: propitiates/pleases
• प्रसादयति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रसादय् (धातु; causative of सद्/सद्-प्रसाद)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Viṣṇu)
• माधवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Dharma Discourse

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It establishes the Purāṇic dialogue frame (Sūta narrating) and introduces a thematic unit on conduct and ‘guhya’ (esoteric/private) practice, typical of late classical dharma-oriented compilations.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic site is named in this verse; the setting is primarily dialogic and thematic.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds respectful inquiry—Earth approaches the instructor figure with humility and a dharma-oriented intent.