Varaha Purana 137.63 — Adhyaya 137, Shloka 63

The Tale of the Vulture and the She-Jackal: The Māhātmya of the Saukarava Sacred Field

Devanagari script

ताम्बूलं रक्तवस्त्रं तु सुसूक्ष्मे पट्टवाससी ॥ सुगन्धैर्भूषिता गात्रे सर्वरत्नसमायुता

Transliteration

tāmbūlaṃ raktavastraṃ tu susūkṣme paṭṭavāsasī || sugandhair bhūṣitā gātre sarvaratnasamāyutā

Translation

அவளிடம் தாம்பூலம் இருந்தது; சிவந்த ஆடைகளை அணிந்திருந்தாள்; மிக நுண்ணிய பட்டாடைகளைத் தரித்திருந்தாள். நறுமணங்களால் அவள் உடல் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டு, எல்லா வகை ரத்தினங்களாலும் நிறைந்திருந்தாள்.

Word by Word

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (leaf/chew)
• ताम्बूलम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• रक्तवस्त्रम्: red garment
• रक्तवस्त्रम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'रक्तं वस्त्रम्'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• सुसूक्ष्मे: very fine (two)
• सुसूक्ष्मे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), द्विवचन; अव्ययीभाव: 'सु' (well/very) + 'सूक्ष्म' (fine)

• पट्टवाससी: two silk garments
• पट्टवाससी: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्ट + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'पट्टस्य वाससी' (silk-cloths)

• सुगन्धैः: with fragrances/perfumes
• सुगन्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सु गन्धः' (good fragrance)

• भूषिता: adorned
• भूषिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भूष्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• गात्रे: on the body/limbs
• गात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• सर्वरत्नसमायुता: endowed with all jewels
• सर्वरत्नसमायुता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + रत्न + समायुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √युज् with सम्-आ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सर्वैः रत्नैः समायुता' (endowed with all gems)

Speaker

Varāha (default, dialogue framework provisional)

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":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"Attribution of fault and the cause of suffering: who is responsible for the speaker’s head-pain, and what relational duty follows from lineage and marriage-gift?"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"rajaniti","instruction_summary":"Royal/ethical accountability is foregrounded: identify the doṣa (fault) causing harm and honor rightful marital/relational bonds established by paternal gift and lineage.","karmic_consequence":"Upholding accountability and rightful bonds sustains social order and legitimacy; ignoring fault and dharma of relationships leads to conflict, dishonor, and continued suffering."}

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 causality and responsibility","core_concept":"Suffering (rujā) is traced to doṣa (fault); dharma requires discerning causes and acting responsibly within established relationships.","practical_application":"When harm arises, seek the true cause (doṣa) rather than scapegoating; honor commitments and relational duties grounded in lawful giving and consent."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: royal lineage/region (ancient city)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 137 (adjacent verses likely narrate the persons involved and the kṣetra that resolves the affliction)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A speaker (royal/heroic figure) lamenting a sharp head-pain while referencing a woman of Kāñcī royal lineage, presented as ‘given by her father’ and ‘beloved’—a scene of accusation and duty.","item_prompts":["gesture to head indicating pain","court setting with attendants","insignia hinting at Kāñcī (southern temple-gopura motif or palm-leaf fan)","a dignified woman in royal attire","a father/elder figure symbolizing ‘pitrā dattā’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: expressive face with hand to head, stylized court figures, the Kāñcī-born lady in red-gold ornaments, strong narrative gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central afflicted figure with ornate crown, secondary figure of the beloved lady, embossed jewelry and arch, emphasis on regal lineage.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: restrained emotion, detailed textiles, subtle depiction of pain and moral tension in a palace hall.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate court vignette, lyrical sorrow, minimal architecture, emphasis on expressive eyes and hand gestures."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"plaintive-narrative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"grave, slightly weighted on ‘doṣa/rujā’ phrases"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Material Culture
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The description preserves cultural details—textiles, perfumes, jewelry, and tāmbūla—useful for studying courtly and ritual aesthetics in Sanskrit narrative literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No explicit location occurs in this fragment; the broader passage context (elsewhere in the input) points to named tīrthas.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse is primarily descriptive; ethically, it functions as characterization within a tīrtha narrative rather than direct prescription.