Varaha Purana 38.1: Adhyaya 38, Shloka 1

The Hunter’s Austerity and the Gaining of Durvāsas’ Favor

Devanagari script

श्रीवराह उवाच । स शुभं शोभनं मार्गमास्थाय व्याधसत्तमः । तपस्तेपे निराहारस्तं गुरुं मनसा स्मरन् ॥ ३८.१ ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 38.1

Transliteration

śrīvarāha uvāca | sa śubhaṃ śobhanaṃ mārgam āsthāya vyādhasattamaḥ | tapas tepe nirāhāras taṃ guruṃ manasā smaran || 38.1 ||

Translation

శ్రీవరాహుడు పలికెను—ఆ శుభమయమైన, శోభనమైన మార్గాన్ని ఆశ్రయించి శ్రేష్ఠ వ్యాధుడు తపస్సు చేశాడు. నిరాహారుడై మనసులో గురువును స్మరించుచుండెను.

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Word by Word

• śrī-varāhaḥ: Śrī Varāha
• śrī-varāhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + varāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'mārgam'

• śobhanam: excellent, beautiful
• śobhanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śobhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'mārgam'

• mārgam: path
• mārgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• āsthāya: having undertaken
• āsthāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त); 'having undertaken/resorted to'

• vyādha-sattamaḥ: the best hunter
• vyādha-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyādha (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'vyādhānāṃ sattamaḥ' (best of hunters)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'tepe' (cognate object)

• tepe: performed austerity
• tepe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada

• nir-āhāraḥ: fasting / without food
• nir-āhāraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'āhāraḥ yasya na asti' / 'nirāhāra' (without food); qualifies the subject

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; refers to 'guru'

• gurum: teacher
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with subject

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaishnavism
• Dharma and Ethics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic narrative motif in which moral and social identities (here, a hunter) are reframed through ascetic discipline (tapas) and inner recollection of a teacher, illustrating didactic strategies used in Sanskrit narrative literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it focuses on personal discipline and mental remembrance rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes disciplined practice (tapas), restraint (nirāhāra), and sustained mindfulness of guidance (guru-smaraṇa) as a pathway to ethical and spiritual refinement.