Varaha Purana 20.28 — Adhyaya 20, Shloka 28
The Birth of the Aśvins: Solar Lineage, Saṃjñā and Chāyā, and the Granting of a Hymn and Boons
ॐ नमस्ते निष्क्रिय निष्प्रपञ्च निराश्रय निरपेक्ष निरालम्ब निर्गुण निरालोक निराधार निर्जय निराकार । ब्रह्मन् महाब्रह्मन् ब्राह्मणप्रिय पुरुष महापुरुषोत्तम । देव महादेवोत्तम स्थाणो स्थितस्थापक । भूत महाभूत भूताधिपति यक्ष महायक्ष यक्षाधिपते । गुह्य महागुह्याधिपते सौम्य महासौम्य सौम्याधिपते । पक्षि महापक्षिपते दैत्य महादैत्याधिपते । रुद्र महारुद्राधिपते विष्णु महाविष्णुपते । परमेश्वर नारायण प्रजापतये नमः । एवं स्तुतस्तदा ताभ्यामश्विभ्यां स प्रजापतिः । तुतोष परमप्रीत्या वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ २०.२८ ॥
oṃ namaste niṣkriya niṣprapañca nirāśraya nirapekṣa nirālamba nirguṇa nirāloka nirādhāra nirjaya nirākāra | brahman mahābrahman brāhmaṇapriya puruṣa mahāpuruṣottama | deva mahādevottama sthāṇo sthitasthāpaka | bhūta mahābhūta bhūtādhipati yakṣa mahāyakṣa yakṣādhipate | guhya mahāguhyādhipate saumya mahāsaumya saumyādhipate | pakṣi mahāpakṣipate daitya mahādaityādhipate | rudra mahārudrādhipate viṣṇu mahāviṣṇupate | parameśvara nārāyaṇa prajāpataye namaḥ | evaṃ stutas tadā tābhyām aśvibhyāṃ sa prajāpatīḥ | tutoṣa paramaprītyā vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha || 20.28 ||
ఓం. నీకు నమస్కారం—నీవు నిష్క్రియుడు, నిష్ప్రపంచుడు, నిరాశ్రయుడు, నిరపేక్షుడు, నిరాలంబుడు, నిర్గుణుడు, నిరాలోకుడు, నిరాధారుడు, అజేయుడు, నిరాకారుడు. హే బ్రహ్మన్, మహాబ్రహ్మన్; బ్రాహ్మణప్రియ; పురుష, మహాపురుషోత్తమ. హే దేవ, మహాదేవోత్తమ; స్థాణు, స్థితస్థాపక. హే భూత, మహాభూత; భూతాధిపతి. హే యక్ష, మహాయక్ష; యక్షాధిపతే. హే గుహ్య, మహాగుహ్యాధిపతే. హే సౌమ్య, మహాసౌమ్య; సౌమ్యాధిపతే. హే పక్షి, మహాపక్షిపతే. హే దైత్య, మహాదైత్యాధిపతే. హే రుద్ర, మహారుద్రాధిపతే. హే విష్ణు, మహావిష్ణుపతే. హే పరమేశ్వర నారాయణ, ప్రజాపతయే నమః. ఈ విధంగా ఆ ఇద్దరు అశ్వినులచే స్తుతింపబడిన ప్రజాపతి పరమంగా ప్రసన్నుడై, అప్పుడు ఈ వాక్యాన్ని పలికాడు।
Aśvinīkumāras (the twin Aśvins), with narrative voice by the text’s narrator
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The stotra stacks nirguṇa epithets (niṣkriya, nirguṇa, nirākāra) with īśvara epithets (Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Yakṣa, etc.), expressing the Purāṇic synthesis: the one absolute is beyond attributes yet appears as all divine offices.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Not explicit as Yajña-Varāha anatomy; instead a ‘sarva-devatātmaka’ mapping where all deity-lordships are names of the one praised.","vedantic_connection":"Bridges nirguṇa Brahman language with saguna īśvara devotion; supports a Vedāntic reading where names/forms are pedagogical superimpositions on the absolute."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"nirguṇa–saguṇa synthesis","core_concept":"The supreme is actionless and formless, yet is addressed through many divine titles; plurality of names points to unity of essence.","practical_application":"In worship, hold both levels: meditate on the formless ground while using names/forms to steady devotion and concentration."}
Subject Matter: ["Theology (nirguṇa/formless absolute)","Praise-poetry (stotra)","Puranic narrative framing"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: mantric/ritual speech-space
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: other stotra passages that conflate Nārāyaṇa with cosmic offices (general motif)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The twin Aśvins chant an expansive litany before Prajāpati/Nārāyaṇa, whose form radiates multiple divine aspects while remaining serene and transcendent; Prajāpati becomes pleased.","item_prompts":["two Aśvins (twin youthful deities) in chanting posture","Prajāpati/Nārāyaṇa enthroned with layered halos","multiple symbolic emblems subtly suggested (conch/disc, trident, bird motif) without clutter","mantric ‘Oṃ’ motif","varada/abhaya gestures as pleasure arises"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, symmetrical twins chanting, central deity with concentric halos and subtle iconographic hints of multiple lordships, bold flat colors, ornate borders with ‘Oṃ’.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central deity with heavy gold halo and embossed ornaments, twins at sides with garlands, gold-lettered ‘Oṃ’ cartouche, rich reds/greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined deity face, soft glow, twins with delicate jewelry, minimal but clear emblems (śaṅkha-cakra suggested), elegant pavilion.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style, lyrical celestial terrace, twins singing with expressive hands, central luminous figure with gentle aura, pastel sky, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic and mantra-like","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow (litany cadence)","voice_tone":"deep, resonant, steady; slight crescendo through the epithets"}
FAQs
It exemplifies Purāṇic stotra-style theology by layering nirguṇa (attribute-less) descriptors with sovereign titles (lord of yakṣas, guhyas, rudras), showing how late-classical Sanskrit texts integrate philosophical abstraction with mythic cosmology.
No specific geographic site is named in this verse; it functions as a hymn and narrative transition (the Aśvins’ praise leading to Prajāpati’s reply).
Rather than a direct moral rule, the verse models a philosophical posture of humility and intellectual reverence: acknowledging the ultimate principle as independent, formless, and beyond worldly supports, before proceeding to discourse or request.
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