Varaha Purana 55.4 — Adhyaya 55, Shloka 4
Observance of the Auspicious Dvādaśī Vow and the Sacred Account of the Kubjākāmra Tīrtha
तामप्येवमुषित्वा च यवान् विप्राय दापयेत् । कृष्णायेति हरिर्वाच्यो दाने होमे तथार्च्चने ॥ ५५.४ ॥
tām apy evam uṣitvā ca yavān viprāya dāpayet | kṛṣṇāyeti harir vācyo dāne home tathārcane || 55.4 ||
அவ்விரதத்தையும் இவ்வாறே நிறைவேற்றி, பிராமணருக்கு யவம் (பார்லி) தானமாக அளிக்க வேண்டும்; தானம், ஹோமம், ஆர்ச்சனை ஆகியவற்றில் ‘கிருஷ்ணாய’ என்று சொல்லி ஹரியை அழைக்க வேண்டும்।
Varāha (default attribution within Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"After completing the observance, what dāna should be given, and what mantra-formula should be used in dāna, homa, and arcana?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":true,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"Explicit invocation ‘kṛṣṇāya iti’ links Hari-worship to Kṛṣṇa-nāma, a thematic bridge to Mathurā/Vraja devotion though no site is named."}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"After observing, give yava (barley) to a brāhmaṇa; in dāna, homa, and arcana invoke Hari with ‘kṛṣṇāya’.","karmic_consequence":"Proper dāna and correct invocation complete the rite and accrue puṇya; failure to give/incorrect mantra leaves the observance incomplete (implied)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"The same Viṣṇu-vrata with completion-dāna (yava-dāna)","tithi_month":"Completion phase following the prescribed days (Daśamī/Dvādaśī cycle implied)","promised_fruit":"Puṇya amplification and Hari’s satisfaction through dāna-homa-arcana integration."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Yajña-logic: the vow culminates in offering (homa) and gifting (dāna), treating Hari as the inner recipient of all ritual acts—an echo of Yajña-Varāha as embodiment of sacrifice.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Not anatomical; functional mapping: dāna/homa/arcana as limbs of yajña directed to Hari (‘kṛṣṇāya’ as saṅkalpa-bīja).","vedantic_connection":"Karma-yoga framing: actions (dāna, homa, pūjā) become liberative when offered to the Supreme (Hari/Kṛṣṇa) as īśvara-arpaṇa."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"integration of devotion and action","core_concept":"Ritual discipline is completed by generosity and God-centered intentional speech; the same Lord is the recipient across modalities (gift, fire, worship).","practical_application":"Conclude observances with tangible charity; keep a consistent devotional formula to unify all religious acts as offerings to Hari/Kṛṣṇa."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Dāna (Gift-giving)"]
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: ritual space (homa-śālā/mandira)
Related Themes: 55.55.5 (further cycles and dāna with gold)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee completes the vow, offers barley as dāna to a brāhmaṇa, performs homa, and worships Hari while uttering ‘kṛṣṇāya’.","item_prompts":["barley grains in a cloth/patra","brāhmaṇa receiving dāna","homa fire with ladle","Viṣṇu/Hari icon with tulasī","mantra utterance gesture"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: homa fire glowing, devotee and brāhmaṇa in profile exchange of yava; Hari icon stylized with bold outlines; warm ritual palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: Hari icon richly ornamented with gold-leaf; foreground dāna scene with detailed vessels; fire rendered as decorative motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined homa-śālā interior, realistic grains and vessels, gentle devotional mood; emphasis on gesture and facial serenity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: narrative courtyard with small fire-altar, brāhmaṇa seated, devotee offering a bowl of barley; delicate architecture and soft colors."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritual-completive, devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati (auspicious closure)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, affirmative"}
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic synthesis of ethical charity (dāna) with standardized ritual speech-acts (mantra-like formulas), illustrating how merit-making practices were framed in late-classical Sanskrit textual culture.
No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it focuses on ritual procedure (dāna, homa, arcana) rather than sacred geography.
To perform charitable giving—specifically the donation of barley to a brāhmaṇa—while maintaining a disciplined observance and accompanying the act with a prescribed devotional invocation.
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