Varaha Purana 138.103: Adhyaya 138, Shloka 103
The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird
and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit
तेन दानप्रभावेण विष्णुतोषकरेण च॥ तरन्ति दुस्तरं तात घोरं संसारसागरम्॥
tena dānaprabhāveṇa viṣṇutoṣakareṇa ca || taranti dustaraṁ tāta ghoraṁ saṁsārasāgaram
ఆ దానప్రభావంతో, విష్ణువును సంతోషపెట్టే ఆ కర్మవల్ల కూడా, ఓ తాత, జనులు ఈ దుర్తరమైన భయంకరమైన సంసారసాగరాన్ని దాటుతారు।
Varāha (default dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"earth_rescue","earth_interaction":"Varāha addresses the listener affectionately ('tāta') and frames dāna as Viṣṇu-prītyartha, implicitly guiding Bhū-devī’s welfare through dharmic means."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"receptive, seeking assurance about liberation through dharma","key_question":"How does dāna that pleases Viṣṇu enable beings to cross the terrifying saṃsāra-ocean?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Perform dāna with the intention of pleasing Viṣṇu; such gifting becomes a means to transcend saṃsāra.","karmic_consequence":"Proper Viṣṇu-tosha-dāna yields salvific merit enabling liberation-like crossing; neglecting generosity sustains bondage to saṃsāra."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Varāha/Vişṇu is the ‘tāraṇa’ principle: as he once lifted Earth from the abyss, so Viṣṇu-prītyartha karma (here dāna) lifts the jīva from the abyss of saṃsāra.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Saṃsāra-sāgara as the cosmic waters; Viṣṇu as the rescuing support—dāna becomes a yajña-limb that turns action into a raft.","vedantic_connection":"Karma offered to Īśvara (Viṣṇu) purifies (citta-śuddhi) and becomes a proximate cause for mokṣa; ‘crossing’ echoes the Upaniṣadic motif of tarati śokam / tarati pāpmānam."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"soteriology through bhakti-inflected karma","core_concept":"Dāna becomes liberative when oriented to Viṣṇu’s satisfaction (īśvara-prītyartha).","practical_application":"Give regularly with devotional intent, seeing charity as worship rather than transaction."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Soteriology","Ritual Culture"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: karuṇa
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: dāna-phala and phalaśruti sections in the same adhyāya cluster (contextual)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as a serene divine teacher speaking of dāna as a boat across a dark ocean of saṃsāra; the ocean appears threatening yet traversable by a luminous path of merit.","item_prompts":["Varāha with calm, instructive gesture","symbolic ocean with waves and darkness","a small boat/raft labeled ‘dāna’ or shown as offerings","a distant radiant shore suggesting mokṣa","scriptural palm-leaf or offering bowl"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Varāha in rich flat colors, large expressive eyes, teaching mudrā; stylized dark-blue saṃsāra ocean with gold highlights; minimal depth, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha with heavy gold-leaf ornaments; embossed halo; ocean rendered as patterned blue with gold wave motifs; offerings (dāna) in foreground.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft shading; Varāha as compassionate instructor; luminous shore and subtle atmospheric ocean; refined jewelry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical landscape with rolling waves; Varāha seated on a small rise, speaking; tiny figures crossing toward a bright horizon; cool palette with fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave yet reassuring","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, compassionate, didactic"}
FAQs
It documents a common Purāṇic ethical model where dāna is framed as both social virtue and a merit-producing practice linked to liberation discourse.
No geographic location is named; the imagery is metaphorical (the 'ocean of saṁsāra').
The verse promotes dāna as an ethically valued practice associated with overcoming existential suffering and instability.
Ask anything about this verse
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