Varaha Purana 113.63: Adhyaya 113, Shloka 63

Hymn to Varāha and Pṛthivī’s Inquiry

Prelude to the Sanatkumāra Dialogue

Pūrva Bhāga · Guhya-Dharma (Esoteric instruction) within Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue

Devanagari script

शृणु तत्त्वेन विप्रेन्द्र गुह्यं धर्मं महौजसम् ॥ भगवत्प्रोक्तधर्मेषु यद्गुह्यं कथयाम्यहम् ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 113.63

Transliteration

śṛṇu tattvena viprendra guhyaṃ dharmaṃ mahaujasam || bhagavatproktadharmeṣu yad guhyaṃ kathayāmy aham ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

హే విప్రేంద్రా, తత్త్వముతో వినుము—ఇది గుహ్యమైన, మహాశక్తిమంతమైన ధర్మము. భగవంతుడు ఉపదేశించిన ధర్మాలలో గోప్యమైనదాన్ని నేను వివరిస్తాను।

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Word by Word

• śṛṇu: listen
• Type: Verb
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (singular), Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Root: √śru (धातु)

• tattvena: in truth / truly
• Type: Noun
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (neuter), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (singular); adverbial use
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)

• vipra-indra: O best of Brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana (singular); tatpuruṣa: viprāṇām indraḥ (best of Brahmins)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Root: vipra + indra (प्रातिपदिक)

• guhyam: secret
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular); qualifying dharmam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)

• dharmam: dharma / teaching
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)

• mahā-ojasam: very powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (singular); karmadhāraya: mahad ojaḥ yasya (very powerful) qualifying dharmam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Root: mahā + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)

• bhagavat-prokta-dharmeṣu: among the dharmas taught by the Lord
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Bahuvacana (plural); multi-member tatpuruṣa: bhagavatā proktāḥ dharmāḥ (dharmas taught by the Lord)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Root: bhagavat + prokta + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)

• yat: which
• Type: Noun
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana (singular); relative pronoun referring to ‘guhyam (dharmaṃ)’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative link)
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• guhyam: secret
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana (singular); predicate/relative qualifier
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)

• kathayāmi: I tell / I explain
• Type: Verb
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana (singular), Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Root: √kath (धातु)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Form: Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); pronoun (gender-neutral usage)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• viprendra=vipra-indra (tatpuruṣa)
• bhagavatproktadharmeṣu=bhagavat-prokta-dharmeṣu
• kathayāmyaham=kathayāmi aham
• yadguhyaṃ=yat guhyaṃ (t→d before g)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasaSetting: Dialogic setting

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Dharma-upadeśa (esoteric instruction)

Subjects

EthicsPhilosophy

Core idea

Dharma has layers—public and confidential—requiring adhikāra (fitness), satya-orientation, and attentive listening (śravaṇa) for realization.

In practice

Approach advanced vows/teachings with discipline: verify teacher-lineage, cultivate truthfulness, and practice sustained listening and reflection.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Dharma Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It marks a rhetorical transition into ‘guhya’ (confidential) instruction, a common Purāṇic device for framing specialized teachings within a dialogue setting.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The instruction is epistemic and pedagogical: to listen attentively and truthfully to a structured teaching on dharma.