Varaha Purana 48.25: Adhyaya 48, Shloka 25

The Kalki Dvādaśī Observance and the Episode of King Viśāla

Pūrva Bhāga · Dharma and Kingship Narratives (Rājadharma; Renunciation after Rule)

Devanagari script

इह जन्मनि राजा असौ राज्यं कृत्वा इयाद् वनम् । यज्ञैश्च विविधैरिष्ट्वा परं निर्वाणमाप्तवान् ॥ ४८.२५ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 48.25

Transliteration

iha janmani rājā ’sau rājyaṁ kṛtvā iyād vanam | yajñaiś ca vividhair iṣṭvā paraṁ nirvāṇam āptavān || 48.25 ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

W tym właśnie życiu ten król, sprawowawszy rządy, udał się do lasu; i wykonawszy różnorodne ofiary, osiągnął najwyższe nirvāṇę (ostateczne wyzwolenie).

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Word by Word

• iha: here/in this world
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: iha (अव्यय)

• janmani: in (this) birth
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)

• rājā: the king
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)

• asau: that one/he
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• rājyaṃ: kingdom/rule
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)

• kṛtvā: having ruled/done
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having done (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: kṛ (धातu) + ktvā (क्त्वा)

• iyāt: should go
• Type: Verb
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: i (धातु; एति)

• vanam: to the forest
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)

• yajñaiḥ: with sacrifices
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: ca (अव्यय)

• vividhaiḥ: various
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying yajñaiḥ
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)

• iṣṭvā: having performed (sacrifices)
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having sacrificed/worshipped
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: yaj (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा) (irregular gerund: इष्ट्वा)

• param: supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying nirvāṇam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)

• nirvāṇam: liberation/nirvāṇa
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: nirvāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• āptavān: attained
• Type: Verb
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: āp (धातु) + kta-vat (क्तवत्)

Sandhi Notes

• rājā ’sau = rājā + asau
• yajñaiś ca = yajñaiḥ + ca

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Vira rasa

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Āśrama-dharma and soteriology

Subjects

EthicsKingship (Rājadharma)Renunciation (Vānaprastha/Saṁnyāsa motifs)Soteriology (Liberation/Nirvāṇa)

Core idea

Integration of pravṛtti (ruling/ordering society) and nivṛtti (withdrawal/renunciation) culminating in liberation (nirvāṇa).

In practice

Fulfill social duty without attachment, then intentionally shift to austerity, ritual discipline, and contemplative life aimed at release.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaishnavism
• Dharmaśāstra Themes

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a widespread Purāṇic and Dharmaśāstra-era ideal: a ruler completes worldly duties (governance and ritual patronage) and then turns toward renunciation, presenting a culturally influential model of life-stages and ethical governance.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name is given in this verse; “vanam” indicates the archetypal ‘forest’ setting associated with withdrawal from courtly life rather than a uniquely identifiable geographic site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse presents an ethical trajectory from responsible worldly rule to disciplined withdrawal and spiritual pursuit, emphasizing that public duty and personal liberation are framed as sequential aims within an idealized life-course.