Varaha Purana 146.9 — Adhyaya 146, Shloka 9

The Greatness of Hṛṣīkeśa at Rurukṣetra: The Origin Narrative of Ruru and the Sacred Site

Devanagari script

उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं क्षुब्धेन्द्रियमनाः प्रभुः ॥ अहो सखायः किञ्चिन्मे महत्कार्यमुपस्थितम् ॥

Transliteration

uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ kṣubdhendriyamanāḥ prabhuḥ | aho sakhāyaḥ kiñcin me mahatkāryam upasthitam ||

Translation

क्षुब्धेन्द्रियमनाः प्रभुः मधुरं वाक्यमुवाच—अहो सखायः, मे किञ्चित् महत् कार्यम् उपस्थितम्॥

Word by Word

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• madhuram: sweet/pleasant
• madhuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of vākyaṃ

• vākyam: speech/statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• kṣubdha-indriya-manāḥ: whose senses and mind were agitated
• kṣubdha-indriya-manāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣubdha (कृदन्त, kṣubh-धातोः क्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); ‘यस्य इन्द्रियाणि मनश्च क्षुब्धानि सः’

• prabhuḥ: the lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• aho: ah!/oh!
• aho: Sambodhana/Exclamation (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्गार (interjection/exclamation)

• sakhāyaḥ: friends
• sakhāyaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural); संबोधनार्थे प्रयोगः (used in address)

• kiñcit: something
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom/acc), एकवचन (singular); अनिश्चितपरिमाण (indefinite ‘something’)

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of kāryam

• kāryam: task/matter to be done
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• upasthitam: has arisen/has come up
• upasthitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-sthā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); kāryam इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Indra (Śakra) (inferred from subsequent verses mentioning indrasya vacaḥ / śatamanyuḥ)

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":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

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":"psychology of power","core_concept":"Madhura-vāk can coexist with kṣubdha-indriya-manas; political/strategic speech may veil anxiety and self-interest.","practical_application":"Discern motives behind pleasing words; cultivate inner steadiness so one is not swayed by sweet persuasion."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vīra

Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka

Geographic Context

Type: celestial council / royal court

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 146.9 (Indra’s speech begins; mission setup)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Indra addressing his companions with a sweet yet calculating expression, announcing a ‘great task’.","item_prompts":["Indra gesturing as he speaks","subtle tension in posture/eyes","assembled Kāma, Vasanta, Gandharvas listening","royal court props: throne, banners, vajra","musical instruments at rest"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: expressive eyes and hand-mudrā for speech; companions arranged in tiers; rich but controlled palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Indra central with gold halo and throne; attendants symmetrically placed; ornate jewelry and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined court scene, nuanced facial expression showing stirred mind beneath sweet speech.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate pavilion scene, light architecture, Indra speaking to a small circle, delicate linework."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"courtly, suspenseful","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, persuasive, slightly tense undertone"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Asceticism
• Kingship (Indra)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It introduces a common Purāṇic narrative device: a ruler of the gods initiating an intervention that tests or challenges ascetic power, reflecting classical discussions about tapas, desire, and authority.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific location is named in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse frames the tension between inner agitation and outwardly “sweet” speech, highlighting the ethical theme of intention versus expression.