Varaha Purana 131.4: Adhyaya 131, Shloka 4
Expiation for Chewing the Tooth-stick
Dantakāṣṭha
श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ शृणु सुन्दरी तत्त्वेन कथ्यमानं मयाऽनघे ॥ येन चैका पराधेन पूर्वकर्म प्रणश्यति ॥
śrīvarāha uvāca || śṛṇu sundarī tattvena kathyamānaṃ mayā ’naghe || yena caikāparādhena pūrvakarma praṇaśyati ||
శ్రీవరాహుడు పలికెను—హే సుందరీ, హే నిర్దోషిణీ, నేను తత్త్వంగా చెప్పబోయేదాన్ని వినుము; ఒక్క అపరాధముచేత పూర్వకర్మ నశించును।
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Direct address to Bhū-devī as interlocutor; initiating instruction on ethical causality (offense vs. karma)."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"Attentive, receptive, addressed as blameless and beautiful; positioned as earnest listener.","key_question":"What single transgression can nullify (destroy) the accumulated merit/force of prior karma, and what is its principle?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"Varāha frames a doctrine of ethical causality: a single grave offense can overturn prior karmic standing, hence one must know the fault and its remedy.","karmic_consequence":"Committing the specified ‘one offense’ results in collapse/ruin of prior karmic merit; knowing and avoiding it preserves dharmic standing."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-ethics","core_concept":"Karma is not merely additive; certain transgressions can negate prior merit, making vigilance in conduct essential.","practical_application":"Treat ‘āpatti’ (moral/ritual fault) as urgent: identify prohibited acts, avoid them, and seek prāyaścitta promptly when doubt arises."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Purity","Didactic Dialogue"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 131.7–131.8 (Dharā’s query and Varāha’s promise of purification method)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha, in calm instructive posture, addresses Bhū-devī as a noble listener; the moment is the opening of a prāyaścitta teaching.","item_prompts":["Varāha as divine teacher","Bhū-devī seated respectfully","gesture of instruction (vyākhyāna-mudrā)","scriptural palm-leaf or manuscript motif","serene hermitage-like backdrop"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: monumental Varāha-teacher with rich reds/greens, Bhū-devī attentive, stylized foliage, clear hand-mudrā of instruction.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha and Bhū-devī with gold-leaf halo, ornate jewelry, minimal background, emphasis on didactic blessing/teaching gesture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft shading, Varāha’s composed face, Bhū-devī’s modest posture, manuscript/palm-leaf detail.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate indoor satsang scene, pastel palette, Varāha instructing, Bhū-devī listening, small attendants optional, lyrical calm."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Didactic, grave, attentive","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"Clear, authoritative, compassionate"}
FAQs
It introduces a formal explanation typical of Purāṇic pedagogy, where a divine speaker frames a rule-like teaching on offense and expiation.
No location is identified; the verse functions as a transition into doctrinal exposition.
It signals that moral and ritual lapses can have disproportionate consequences, motivating careful adherence to conduct and expiatory rules.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.