Varaha Purana 137.7 — Adhyaya 137, Shloka 7
The Tale of the Vulture and the She-Jackal: The Māhātmya of the Saukarava Sacred Field
श्रुतं ह्येव महाबाहो सर्वधर्मार्थ साधकम् ॥ तव भक्तसुखार्थाय तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
śrutaṁ hy eva mahābāho sarva-dharmārtha sādhakam || tava bhakta-sukhārthāya tad bhavān vaktum arhati
श्रुतं ह्येव महाबाहो सर्वधर्मार्थसाधकम्॥ तव भक्तसुखार्थाय तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति।
Pṛthivī (default dialogue frame; speaker not explicit in excerpt)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Bhu Devī urges the ‘mighty-armed’ Lord to proclaim a teaching heard to accomplish all dharma and welfare, explicitly for devotees’ happiness."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"curious, petitioning, hopeful for devotees","key_question":"Please declare that teaching/observance which is said to accomplish all dharma and welfare for the sake of devotees’ well-being—what is it, and how is it to be practiced?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"Transmission duty: one who knows a dharma that benefits all should teach it for loka/ भक्त-sukha (devotee welfare).","karmic_consequence":"Teaching beneficial dharma accrues merit and supports communal welfare; withholding it implies neglect of compassionate duty (implied)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Unspecified (to be declared in the subsequent passage)","tithi_month":"Unspecified","promised_fruit":"Accomplishment of ‘all dharma and artha/welfare’ and the happiness of devotees (as stated)."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"śravaṇa–kīrtana / compassionate pedagogy","core_concept":"Dharma is fulfilled through transmission: hearing (śrutam) culminates in proclamation (vaktum) for others’ welfare; knowledge becomes compassion in action.","practical_application":"When you learn a beneficial practice (dharma/vrata), share it responsibly; prioritize teachings that uplift communities, not merely personal gain."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Transmission of Knowledge","Devotional Communities"]
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: mythic teaching dialogue
Related Themes: Didactic dialogue openings in Varāha Purāṇa where Pṛthivī requests a vrata/dharma and Varāha responds
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bhu Devī, attentive and reverent, requests the mighty-armed Lord to reveal a universally beneficial dharma/vrata; the moment is poised before instruction begins.","item_prompts":["Bhu Devī seated as listener","Lord with strong arms (mahābāhu) in teaching posture","gesture of request (añjali)","assembly of devotees/sages","scroll or symbolic ‘teaching’ light"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; dynamic yet calm teacher-disciple composition, Bhu Devī in attentive posture, Lord’s upadeśa-mudrā, warm devotional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; central Lord with gold prabhā, Bhu Devī requesting; ornate frame suggesting impending ‘vrata-mahātmya’ revelation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; classical interior/forest-assembly, refined expressions, emphasis on dialogue and instruction gesture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari; serene hillside/forest setting, intimate satsanga, Bhu Devī’s eager gaze, delicate detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic invocation / anticipatory","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, instructive, inviting"}
FAQs
It preserves the Purāṇic pedagogy model: knowledge is validated as ‘śruta’ (received tradition) and then requested for public articulation for communal benefit.
No place-name is present in this verse segment.
Teachings are to be communicated not merely for private interest but for the welfare of a wider community.
Ask anything about this verse
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