Varaha Purana 6.20: Adhyaya 6, Shloka 20
The Puṇḍarīkākṣapāraka Hymn and Puṣkara Tīrtha: The Account of King Vasu’s Release from Sin
राजोवाच । कोऽसि किं कार्यमिह ते कस्मादागतवानसि । एतन्मे कथय व्याध एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम ॥ ६.२० ॥
rājovāca | ko'si kiṁ kāryam iha te kasmād āgatavān asi | etan me kathaya vyādha etad icchāmi veditum || 6.20 ||
राजा उवाच—कोऽसि? किं कार्यमिह ते? कस्मादागतवानसि? एतन्मे कथय व्याध; एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि॥
Rājā (the King)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","key_question":"Who are you, what is your purpose here, and from where have you come?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"rajaniti","instruction_summary":"A king must investigate identity, intent, and origin of a potentially dangerous stranger before permitting action—due diligence in governance.","karmic_consequence":"Proper inquiry protects subjects and upholds dharma; negligence invites harm, deception, and the king’s share of culpability."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Practical ethics / discernment","core_concept":"Right action begins with right knowledge—clarify identity and motive before engagement.","practical_application":"In leadership and daily life, ask: who, why, and from where (context) before trusting or acting."}
Subject Matter: ["Dialogue","Identity and Intent","Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Type: Royal encounter setting
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: narrative dialogues that begin with identity inquiry (general motif)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king, composed yet wary, questions the hunter/stranger directly, gesturing as if demanding explanation; the other stands before him.","item_prompts":["king’s authoritative posture","pointing/raised hand of inquiry","hunter/stranger with humble stance","attendants observing","weapons kept but not drawn"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: king with bold crown and ornaments; expressive hand-mudrā for questioning; hunter in simpler attire; strong eye contact.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: throne and court rendered with gold leaf; the questioning gesture emphasized; rich architectural frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant court composition; subtle tension in faces; detailed costume contrast between king and hunter.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: simplified palace veranda scene; crisp dialogue moment; delicate lines and pastel background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Interrogative, firm","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, authoritative, slightly clipped on the questions"}
FAQs
It preserves a formal interrogative exchange typical of Purāṇic narrative style, where a ruler establishes identity, motive, and provenance before proceeding with ethical or instructional discourse.
No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it focuses on personal identification and the reason for arrival.
The verse models prudent inquiry: a leader seeks clear information about a stranger’s identity and purpose before making judgments or decisions.
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