Varaha Purana 116.8: Adhyaya 116, Shloka 8

An Exposition on the Causes of Happiness and Suffering

Uttara Bhāga · Pūjā-vidhi and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

ममार्चनविधिं कृत्वा मम लोके महीयते ।। दुःखमेवं प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 116.8

Transliteration

mamārcanavidhiṃ kṛtvā mama loke mahīyate || duḥkham evaṃ pravakṣyāmi tac chṛṇuṣva vasundhare

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Совершив установленный порядок поклонения мне, он почитается в моём мире. Теперь я изложу страдание таким образом; выслушай это, о Васундхара (Земля).

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Word by Word

• मम: my/of me
• Type: Noun
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• अर्चनविधिम्: the procedure of worship
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अर्चन-विधि (प्रातिपदिक)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• Type: Verb
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done’
• Role: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Root: √कृ (धातु)

• मम: my/of me
• Type: Noun
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• लोके: in the world/realm
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is honored’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: √मह् (धातु)

• दुःखम्: sorrow/suffering
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• Type: Verb
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• Type: Verb
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)

• वसुन्धरे: O Earth (Vasundharā)
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• ममार्चनविधिं = मम + अर्चनविधिम्
• तच्छृणुष्व = तत् + शृणुष्व

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Karuna rasaSetting: Celestial realm

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Attentive, curious

What she asks

What is the nature and explanation of suffering (duḥkha) and its account in relation to worship and liberation?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Pedagogy of liberation

Subjects

EthicsCosmology

Core idea

Ritual devotion elevates, but understanding duḥkha is necessary for deeper liberation-oriented discernment.

In practice

Combine correct worship with reflective inquiry into suffering—its causes, mechanisms, and remedies—under scriptural guidance.

The Varaha avatara

Aspect

Dialogue

With the Earth

Direct address to Earth—‘listen, O Vasundharā’—initiating instruction on duḥkha after stating the fruit of his worship.

Symbolism of the boar

Dharma

Vrata

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows a typical Purāṇic structure: ritual instruction and reward (phalaśruti) followed by ethical-philosophical teaching on suffering.

Which geographic location is identified?

Vasundharā is the personified Earth, not a specific site; no named place is given.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Attend carefully to instruction on the causes and removal of suffering, framed within disciplined worship.