Varaha Purana 138.47 — Adhyaya 138, Shloka 47

The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird

and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit

Devanagari script

अहो बत महद्गुह्यं किमेतत्तात कथ्यताम् ॥ एतद्वचनमाकर्ण्य स वैश्यकुलबालकः

Transliteration

aho bata mahadguhyaṃ kim etat tāta kathyatām || etadvacanam ākarṇya sa vaiśyakulabālakaḥ

Translation

अहो बत! महद्गुह्यं किमेतत्, तात, कथ्यताम्। एतद्वचनमाकर्ण्य स वैश्यकुलबालकः…

Word by Word

• अहो: oh!
• अहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable interjection/उद्गार)

• बत: indeed / surely
• बत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bata (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (particle/निपात; emphasis)

• महत्-गुह्यम्: a great secret
• महत्-गुह्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound used as substantive; महद् qualifies गुह्यम्

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative pronoun

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• तात: dear father / dear sir
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• कथ्यताम्: let it be told
• कथ्यताम्: Vidhi (विधि/Imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada; passive-style injunction: 'let it be told'

• एतत्-वचनम्: this statement
• एतत्-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of this' + 'speech'

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; 'having heard'

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• वैश्य-कुल-बालकः: the boy of a Vaiśya family
• वैश्य-कुल-बालकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'of a vaiśya family' + 'boy'

Speaker

Unspecified (likely the parents addressing the boy; narrative voice continues)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"What is this ‘great secret’ (mahad-guhya) behind the teaching just heard—please explain it clearly?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"upadeśa-pravṛtti (initiation into instruction)","core_concept":"Recognition that the prior counsel implies a deeper doctrine (‘guhya’) worthy of systematic explanation.","practical_application":"Adopt śiṣya-bhāva: ask precise questions, listen attentively, and seek coherent understanding before practice."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Narrative transition","Transmission of teachings"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 138.46–49 (the ‘secret’ arises from the detachment/rebirth argument)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Listeners, impressed and startled, ask the boy to explain the profound secret; the narrative focuses on the Vaiśya boy poised to speak.","item_prompts":["group of elders/parents leaning forward","boy (vaiśya-kula-bālaka) attentive and composed","gesture of inquiry (añjali)","scroll or teaching-seat implied"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: clustered listeners with expressive eyes; boy centered, calm; warm tones, minimal props, emphasis on dialogue posture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: boy as central icon with halo-like aureole; listeners in symmetrical arrangement; gold detailing on garments and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: courtly teaching scene; fine jewelry and textiles; subtle expressions of wonder and inquiry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate satsang-like gathering; delicate faces, soft background; emphasis on the moment of questioning."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"inquiring, anticipatory","suggested_raga":"Kalyāṇi","pace":"madhyama (moderate)","voice_tone":"bright, questioning, respectful"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sanskrit Philology
• Didactic Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows a typical Purāṇic narrative hinge: a ‘secret’ is announced, and a character is positioned as the transmitter of the next instruction.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location appears in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It highlights the value placed on inquiry and careful explanation in the transmission of teachings.