Varaha Purana 202.44: Adhyaya 202, Shloka 44

Description of Infernal Punishments and the Ripening of Karmic Consequences

Devanagari script

वृक्षशाखावलम्बोऽत्र ह्यधःशीर्षः प्रजायते ॥ अग्निना पच्यतां पश्चाल्लुब्धो वै पुरुषाधमः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 202.44

Transliteration

vṛkṣaśākhāvalambo'tra hy adhaḥśīrṣaḥ prajāyate || agninā pacyatāṃ paścāl lubdho vai puruṣādhamaḥ ||

Translation

Tutaj rodzi się wisząc z gałęzi drzewa, głową w dół; potem ten chciwy, podły człowiek ma być gotowany przez ogień.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• वृक्षशाखावलम्बः: one hanging from a tree-branch
• वृक्षशाखावलम्बः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष + शाखा + अवलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृक्षस्य शाखायाम् अवलम्बः)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अधःशीर्षः: head-down
• अधःशीर्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधःशीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; अधः + शीर्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (head-down)

• प्रजायते: is born/comes into being
• प्रजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अग्निना: by fire
• अग्निना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• पच्यताम्: let (him) be cooked
• पच्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• लुब्धः: greedy
• लुब्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √लुभ् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• पुरुषाधमः: the worst of men
• पुरुषाधमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषाधम (प्रातिपदिक; पुरुष + अधम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (lowest of men)

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework)

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Dharma Shastra

Philosophical Teaching

Subject Matter

Verse Rasa

Geographic Context

Cross References

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Naraka Imagery
• Karma Theory

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse preserves a stylized punitive iconography (inversion, suspension, and fire) common to Purāṇic naraka descriptions, useful for comparative studies of South Asian moral imagination.

Which geographic location is identified?

No earthly geography is indicated; the setting is a generalized punitive realm.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Greed is presented as a serious moral fault with severe consequences, reinforcing restraint and non-exploitative conduct.