Varaha Purana 136.6 — Adhyaya 136, Shloka 6
A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions
चतुर्थभक्तमाहारमाकाशशयने स्वपेत् ॥ दीपं दत्त्वापराधाद्वै तरन्ति मनुजा भुवि
caturtha-bhaktam āhāram ākāśa-śayane svapet | dīpaṁ dattvāparādhād vai taranti manujā bhuvi ||
พึงรับประทานเพียง ‘ภัตตะครั้งที่สี่’ (คือจำกัดการกิน) และนอนบนที่นอนกลางแจ้งใต้ท้องฟ้า ด้วยการถวายประทีป มนุษย์บนแผ่นดินย่อมข้ามพ้นความผิดนั้นได้
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Normative instruction within the Varāha–Bhū teaching frame; no physical contact described"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"What austerity and gift remove ‘aparādha’ and lead to crossing beyond fault?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Practice restrained eating (caturtha-bhakta) and sleep under open sky; give a lamp as dāna to overcome offenses.","karmic_consequence":"Lamp-gift with austerity becomes a means of aparādha-kṣaya; disregard sustains the burden of fault."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Dīpa-dāna associated Dvādaśī discipline (austerity + lamp-gift)","tithi_month":"Implied continuation from Śukla Dvādaśī (any month)","promised_fruit":"Crossing beyond offense (aparādha) and its worldly consequences"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The lamp signifies jñāna/light that dispels pāpa; austerity disciplines the senses—together mirroring inner yajña where ignorance is offered into the fire of awareness.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Dīpa as miniature agni; open-sky sleeping evokes ‘ākāśa’ as witness-space; restrained food as oblation-measure (āhuti-mātra).","vedantic_connection":"Light as ātma-jyotis metaphor; aparādha-kṣaya through sattva-śuddhi enabling clearer recognition of dharma and devotion."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethical asceticism","core_concept":"Self-restraint (niyama) plus generous giving (dāna) transforms karmic residue into clarity and merit.","practical_application":"Adopt measured eating, simplify comforts, and offer lamp-gift with repentance and devotion."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Type: None
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 136.5 (Dvādaśī timing); Varāha Purāṇa 136.7 (purity and proper procedure); Varāha Purāṇa 136.8–136.9 (impurity contact and consequence)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs austerity—reduced meals and sleeping under the open sky—then offers a glowing lamp as dāna to remove offense.","item_prompts":["oil lamp with steady flame","simple bedding under stars","ascetic posture","offering gesture (dāna)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: night sky with stylized stars, devotee offering lamp before a Vaiṣṇava emblem, warm flame contrast.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate lamp with gold highlights, donor figure with minimal attire, dramatic flame and halo-like glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined lamp details, calm nocturnal palette, emphasis on disciplined simplicity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: hillside night scene, small lamp illuminating faces, gentle narrative intimacy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"austere-instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"firm, penitential, steady"}
FAQs
It documents a characteristic Purāṇic pairing of austerity (tapas-like restraint) with gifting (dāna), a common ethical technology for remediation.
No specific location is named; the practice is described as applicable ‘on earth’ (bhuvi).
That disciplined restraint and the donation of a lamp are presented as practical means for mitigating a defined ritual offence.
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