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Varaha Purana 201.5 — Adhyaya 201, Shloka 5

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

अदूरे दृष्टवान्कञ्चित्पुरुषं स ह्यनाकृतिम् ॥ स तु वेगेन सम्प्राप्त इङ्गितज्ञो दुरात्मवान् ॥

adūre dṛṣṭavān kañcit puruṣaṃ sa hy anākṛtim || sa tu vegena samprāpta iṅgitajño durātmavān ||

అదూరంలో అతడు ఒక పురుషుణ్ణి చూచెను; అతనికి స్పష్టమైన ఆకృతి లేదు. ఆ దురాత్ముడు, సంకేతాలు-ఉద్దేశ్యాలు గ్రహించువాడు, వేగంగా పరుగెత్తి చేరెను।

अदूरेnearby
अदूरे:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; locative setting)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya); देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative-adverb): ‘nearby/at no great distance’
दृष्टवान्having seen
दृष्टवान्:
कर्ता (Kartā; subject—implicit ‘he’)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formकृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Kridanta); क्तवतु-प्रत्यय (क्तवतु/ktavatu) भूतकृत्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having seen’ (perfect participle used predicatively)
कञ्चित्some/ a certain
कञ्चित्:
कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)
पुरुषम्man/person
पुरुषम्:
कर्म (Karma; object)
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
सःhe
सः:
कर्ता (Kartā; subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
हिindeed
हि:
सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle; discourse)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed
अनाकृतिम्formless/without (recognizable) shape
अनाकृतिम्:
कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्-आकृति (प्रातिपदिक: नञ् + आकृति)
Formनञ्-तत्पुरुष (negative determinative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘without form/shape’ (qualifying पुरुषम् by sense: ‘of no (recognizable) form’)
सःhe
सः:
कर्ता (Kartā; subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
तुbut/then
तु:
सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle; discourse)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (contrastive particle)
वेगेनwith speed
वेगेन:
करण (Karaṇa; means/manner)
TypeNoun
Rootवेग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण-प्रयोग (instrumental of manner)
सम्प्राप्तःarrived/approached
सम्प्राप्तः:
कर्ता (Kartā; subject)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-प्र-आप् (धातु)
Formकृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Kridanta); क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘arrived/approached’
इङ्गितज्ञःknower of signs/gestures
इङ्गितज्ञः:
कर्ता (Kartā; subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootइङ्गित + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘knower of gestures/signs’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
दुरात्मवान्wicked/evil-minded
दुरात्मवान्:
कर्ता (Kartā; subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुव्रीहि (possessive: ‘one whose soul is bad’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Varāha (default speaker framework; not explicit in fragment)

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":"observer","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":true,"topic":"rajaniti","instruction_summary":"Beware deceptive, ‘formless’ agents skilled in reading intentions; governance requires discernment against spies and wicked counselors.","karmic_consequence":"Discernment prevents sabotage and adharma; naivety empowers duṣṭa persons, leading to downfall and injustice."}

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

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

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"discernment (viveka)","core_concept":"Evil often appears ‘without clear form’—ambiguous, adaptable, and skilled at exploiting signals; clarity and steadiness counter manipulation.","practical_application":"Do not reveal intentions to untrusted actors; verify counsel, watch for manipulation, and cultivate calm observation before response."}

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Cosmology"]

Primary Rasa: bhayānaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Type: liminal encounter space (edge of court/battlefield)

Related Themes: Continuation of the conflict cycle: the rage (201.4) meets an ambiguous antagonist/agent (201.5).

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A shadowy, indistinct person—hard to define in form—rushes forward, eyes sharp with cunning, as the observer notices him nearby.","item_prompts":["blurred/indistinct silhouette","swift forward motion lines","cunning gaze","contrast between clarity (observer) and ambiguity (intruder)","edge-of-scene proximity (‘not far’)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized ‘formless’ figure rendered with softened outlines and darker tones; dynamic rush posture; clear protagonist in brighter hues.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: dramatic contrast—golden court clarity vs. dark, minimally detailed intruder; motion emphasized with flowing drapery and sharp eyes.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: nuanced chiaroscuro for the ambiguous figure; fine facial detail for ‘iṅgita-jña’; restrained but tense composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: delicate landscape with a sudden dark figure entering; minimal lines to suggest ‘anakṛti’; emphasis on narrative surprise."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ominous, watchful","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"hushed intensity, precise articulation to convey suspense"}

C
Classical Literature
P
Purāṇic Narrative
A
Afterlife Administration
V
Vaishnavism

FAQs

It reflects Purāṇic narrative techniques for portraying moral character through descriptors (e.g., durātmavān) and the motif of subtle perception (iṅgitajña), common in Dharmic-judicial storytelling.

No specific geographic location is named in this verse.

The verse frames ethical evaluation through inner disposition and intent, contrasting deceptive acuity (reading intentions) with moral deficiency.

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