Varaha Purana 39.3: Adhyaya 39, Shloka 3

Discrimination of the Three Bodies and the Dharaṇī Vow: A Manual for Dvādaśī Observance

Devanagari script

प्रागवस्थमधर्माख्यं परिज्ञानविवर्जितम् । अपरं सव्रतं तद्धि ज्ञेयमत्यन्तधार्मिकम् ॥ ३९.३ ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 39.3

Transliteration

prāgavastham adharmākhyam parijñāna-vivarjitam | aparaṃ savrataṃ taddhi jñeyam atyanta-dhārmikam || 39.3 ||

Translation

முன்நிலைக்குச் சேர்ந்தது ‘அதர்மம்’ என அழைக்கப்படுகிறது; அது விவேக அறிவின்றியது. ஆனால் பின்நிலை, விரதங்களுடன் கூடியதனால், மிகுந்த தர்மமுடையதாக அறியப்பட வேண்டும்.

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Word by Word

• प्राक्: formerly/previously
• प्राक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/पूर्वार्थक (adverb: formerly/before)

• अवस्थम्: in the prior state
• अवस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘body’ understood)

• अधर्माख्यम्: called ‘unrighteous’
• अधर्माख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर्म + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थ: अधर्म-आख्य (called ‘adharma’)

• परिज्ञानविवर्जितम्: devoid of true knowledge
• परिज्ञानविवर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिज्ञान + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: परिज्ञानस्य विवर्जितम् (devoid of full knowledge)

• अपरम्: the other
• अपरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सव्रतम्: with vows/observances
• सव्रतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: व्रतेन सह/युक्तम् (endowed with vows/observances)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; विधेय-भावे (gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be understood’

• अत्यन्तधार्मिकम्: extremely righteous
• अत्यन्तधार्मिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त + धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: अत्यन्तं धार्मिकम् (extremely righteous)

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework; explicit attribution not present in fragment)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaishnavism
• Dharma-śāstra discourse

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic mode of ethical taxonomy, distinguishing states of conduct by the presence or absence of discernment (parijñāna) and disciplined observance (vrata), a common didactic strategy in medieval Sanskrit literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is referenced in this verse fragment; it is primarily conceptual and ethical rather than topographical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse contrasts an earlier, non-discerning condition labeled as adharma with a later condition characterized by disciplined observances (vratas), presenting the latter as strongly aligned with dharma.