Varaha Purana 201.29 — Adhyaya 201, Shloka 29

The Battle between the Rākṣasas and Yama’s Attendant-Messengers

Devanagari script

वध्यमानाः पिशाचास्ते ये निवृत्ता रणार्दिताः ॥ आहूयन्त प्रतिबयात्क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः

Transliteration

vadhyamānāḥ piśācās te ye nivṛttā raṇārditāḥ || āhūyanta pratibhayāt krodhasaṃraktalocanāḥ

Translation

యుద్ధంలో బాధపడి వెనుదిరిగిన ఆ పిశాచులు, చంపబడుతూనే ఉన్నప్పటికీ భయంతో మళ్లీ పిలువబడ్డారు; కోపంతో వారి కన్నులు ఎర్రబడినవి।

Word by Word

• वध्यमानाः: being slain
• वध्यमानाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्यमान (वध् धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; वर्तमानकृदन्तः (शानच्/मान) कर्मणि-प्रयोगः 'being slain' (पिशाचाः इति विशेष्य)

• पिशाचाः: piśācas/ghouls
• पिशाचाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st) बहुवचनम्

• ते: those
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• निवृत्ताः: retreated
• निवृत्ताः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + वृत्त (वृत् धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) 'turned back/retreated'

• रणार्दिताः: afflicted by battle
• रणार्दिताः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण + अर्दित (अर्द् धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) 'afflicted'; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रणेन अर्दिताः/रणे अर्दिताः)

• आहूयन्त: they called out
• आहूयन्त: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past) आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) बहुवचनम्

• प्रतिभयात्: from fear
• प्रतिभयात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th) एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (प्रतिभयम् = 'in fear/with fear'); अर्थे: 'from fear'

• क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः: whose eyes were reddened with anger
• क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध + संरक्त + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: क्रोधेन संरक्ते लोचने येषां ते

Speaker

Varāha (default narrative voice)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"affect theory / guṇa dynamics","core_concept":"Bhaya (fear) can flip into krodha (anger), producing reckless return to harm; tamas-rajas synergy sustains destructive cycles.","practical_application":"When fear arises, avoid converting it into aggression; use breath/attention to prevent reactive anger and to choose safer, dharmic action."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Fear and anger in conflict","Battlefield regrouping","Characterization through bodily markers"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 201.29-201.33 (fear/anger escalation and shouted commands)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Piśācas, wounded and terrified, being called back into the fray; their faces show fear mixed with rage—eyes bloodshot-red—while weapons and bodies press around them.","item_prompts":["piśāca figures (gaunt, fierce)","wounds/battle wear","a leader calling them back (beckoning gesture)","reddened eyes","fearful recoil + angry posture","crowded battlefield haze"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized piśāca physiognomy, prominent red-rimmed eyes, dramatic hand-gestures of summoning, dense background patterning.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic close-up of a piśāca face with red eyes, gold accents on ornaments/weapon edges, layered figures behind indicating recall to battle.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: expressive but controlled depiction of mixed emotions (bhaya+krodha), careful facial modeling, restrained gore.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: emotive faces with large eyes, narrative grouping (those turning back vs those being summoned), airy dust-clouds."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"tense, ominous","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"dark, weighted, emphasizing compounds like krोध-saṃrakta-locanāḥ"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Sanskrit Descriptive Compounds
• Affective vocabulary (bhaya/krodha)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It demonstrates Purāṇic narrative psychology: fear-induced regrouping and anger signaled via physical description, a common technique across Sanskrit battle literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is mentioned.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

No explicit ethical instruction; the verse highlights emotional drivers (fear, anger) that perpetuate violence.