Varaha Purana 25.8 — Adhyaya 25, Shloka 8

The Birth of Ahaṅkāra as Guha/Skanda and His Appointment as Divine Commander

Devanagari script

सृष्ट्यां विस्तारितायां तु देवदैत्याः महाबलाः । सापत्न्यं भावमास्थाय युयुधुर्विजिगीषवः ॥ २५.८ ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭyāṃ vistāritāyāṃ tu devadaityā mahābalāḥ | sāpatnyaṃ bhāvam āsthāya yuyudhur vijigīṣavaḥ || 25.8 ||

Translation

सृष्ट्यां विस्तारितायां तु देवदैत्याः महाबलाः । सापत्न्यभावमास्थाय युयुधुर्विजिगीषवः ॥

Word by Word

• sṛṣṭyām: in (the) creation
• sṛṣṭyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

• vistāritāyām: when expanded/spread out
• vistāritāyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√stṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त), Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular; agrees with sṛṣṭyām

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/conjunction (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• deva-daityāḥ: gods and Daityas
• deva-daityāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva compound; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• mahābalāḥ: very strong
• mahābalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; adjective of deva-daityāḥ; compound: 'great' + 'strength' = 'great-strong'

• sāpatnyam: rivalry/hostility
• sāpatnyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāpatnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhāvam: state/attitude
• bhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• āsthāya: having adopted
• āsthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; sense: 'having assumed/adopted'

• yuyudhuḥ: fought
• yuyudhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yudh (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; Parasmaipada

• vijigīṣavaḥ: desiring to conquer
• vijigīṣavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√ji + īṣa (इच्छार्थक प्रत्यय) (धातु-आधारित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Desiderative adjective/noun (सन्नन्त/इच्छार्थक), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; qualifies deva-daityāḥ

Speaker

Varāha (default narrative voice within Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)

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":"instructor","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":"ethics of power and rivalry","core_concept":"As creation proliferates, competitive grasping (sāpatnya-bhāva) arises and becomes a driver of conflict.","practical_application":"Recognize rivalry as a root-cause; cultivate restraint and dharmic aims before power contests escalate."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Mythic History","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vīra

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/primordial battlefield (mythic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 25.25 (Deva–Daitya conflict sequence)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wide cosmic battlefield as creation spreads—Devas and Daityas facing each other with banners raised, both driven by conquest and rivalry.","item_prompts":["two opposing armies (Deva/Daitya)","cosmic sky backdrop","standards and conches","chariots and weapons","sense of expanding creation (stars/nebula-like space)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical opposing ranks of Devas and Daityas, bold flat colors, ornate jewelry, dramatic eyes, layered clouds suggesting cosmic expansion.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central panoramic battle tableau with gold-leaf highlights on crowns/armor, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments on leaders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined linework, soft shading, detailed textiles; depict rivalry through tense postures and poised weapons.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: rolling hills replaced by stylized cosmic bands; delicate faces, rhythmic composition of two armies about to clash."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"martial, narrative-propulsive","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"firm, energetic, story-telling cadence"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaishnavism
• Mythic Cosmology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic narrative pattern: cosmic expansion is accompanied by competitive struggle among divine and anti-divine lineages, illustrating how order and power are contested in mythic historiography.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it is framed in a cosmological (sṛṣṭi) setting rather than a sacred-site description.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds the psychology of rivalry (sāpatnya-bhāva) as a driver of conflict, offering a philosophical observation on how competitive desire for victory (vijigīṣā) can lead to violence.