Varaha Purana 183.6: Adhyaya 183, Shloka 6

Installation of a Clay Icon (Mṛnmayārcā) and the Ritual Protocol of Worship

Uttara Bhāga · Motivations for Worship (Intention and Social Context)

Devanagari script

अर्चनं त्वपरं वेद्यां मम कर्मपरिग्रहात् ॥ केचिल्लोकापवादेन ख्यात्यै कुर्वन्ति केचन ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 183.6

Transliteration

arcanaṃ tv aparaṃ vedyāṃ mama karmaparigrahāt || kecil lokāpavādena khyātyai kurvanti kecana ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

కానీ నా విధిత కర్మాలను స్వీకరించే దృష్టితో అర్చనకు మరో విధమూ తెలుసుకోవాలి: కొందరు లోకనింద భయంతో, మరికొందరు ఖ్యాతి కోసం చేస్తారు।

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Word by Word

• अर्चनम्: worship; act of worship
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1) / द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); वाक्ये विषय/उद्देश्यरूपेण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; अर्च्-धातोः भाव/कर्मनाम)

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Root: तु (अव्यय)

• अपरम्: other; different
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण अर्चनम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)

• वेद्याम्: to be understood/known
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be known/understood’); (understood: विधिम्/रीतिम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: वेद्या (प्रातिपदिक; √विद् सेव्य/ज्ञेयार्थे, ‘to be known’)

• मम: my
• Type: Noun
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• कर्मपरिग्रहात्: from (the standpoint of) undertaking the rites
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘कर्मणः परिग्रहः’ (acceptance/undertaking of rites)
• Role: Apadana (अपादान)
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)

• केचित्: some (people)
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite: some)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• लोकापवादेन: by public blame/criticism
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Inst. 3), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘लोकस्य अपवादः’ (public censure/rumor)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अपवाद (प्रातिपदिक)

• ख्यात्यै: for fame
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dat. 4), एकवचन (sg.)
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)

• कुर्वन्ति: do; perform
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.); परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: कृ (धातु)

• केचन: some (others)
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); अनिश्चितवाचक (some others)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• त्वपरं→तु+अपरम्
• केचिल्लोकापवादेन→केचित्+लोकापवादेन. IAST ‘kecil’ normalized to ‘kecit’ (केचित्)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Bibhatsa rasa

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethics of intention (bhāva-śuddhi)

Subjects

EthicsRitual PracticeSocial Dynamics

Core idea

The inner motive (fame/fear vs devotion/duty) conditions the spiritual value of ritual action.

In practice

Examine motives before worship; prioritize devotion and prescribed duty over reputation management or anxiety about criticism.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

Ethical instruction in Varāha’s voice about motives behind worship.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Ethics in Sanskrit Literature
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records a critical awareness of social motivations around ritual practice—useful for historians studying public religiosity, reputation, and normative pressure.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named; the emphasis is on social context.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To distinguish sincere commitment to prescribed practice from actions driven primarily by fame or fear of public reproach.