Varaha Purana 17.5: Adhyaya 17, Shloka 5
King Prajāpāla’s Visit to Sage Mahātapā’s Hermitage and the Doctrinal Praise of Nārāyaṇa
Pūrva Bhāga · Genealogical Narratives (Vaṁśa / Progeny Accounts)
तस्य पुत्रत्वमापेदे सुप्रभो मणिजो धरे । प्रजापालेति वै नाम्ना श्रुतकीर्तिर्महाबलः ॥ १७.५ ॥
tasya putratvam āpede suprabho maṇijo dhare | prajāpāleti vai nāmnā śrutakīrtir mahābalaḥ || 17.5 ||
tasya putratvamApede suprabho maNijo dhare | prajApAleti vai nAmnA shrutakIrtirmahAbalaH || 17.5 ||
โอ้พระธรา! มณิชะ—ผู้เป็นที่รู้จักอีกนามว่า สุปรภะ—ได้เป็นโอรสของพระองค์ และศรุตกีรติผู้ทรงพละยิ่งนั้น ก็เป็นที่เลื่องลือด้วยนามว่า “ประชาปาล” ด้วย
Sandhi Notes
- मणिजो→मणिजः (visarga before ध)
- प्रजापालेति→प्रजापाल इति
- श्रुतकीर्तिर्महाबलः→श्रुतकीर्तिः महाबलः (visarga sandhi)
Varāha
Attentive, integrating lineage details
A king’s true identity is expressed through function: ‘Prajāpāla’ signals the dharmic duty of protecting and nurturing the people.
In leadership roles, adopt titles/identities that reflect service; measure authority by protection and welfare of dependents.
Varāha addresses Earth directly (‘dhare’) while detailing succession and royal epithets.
Varāha Purāṇa 17.17.3 (Suprabha introduced); Varāha Purāṇa 17.17.4 (Śrutakīrti as predecessor)
FAQs
It preserves a genealogical notice typical of Purāṇic historiography, recording succession through sonship and highlighting royal/heroic identity via epithets such as “Prajāpāla,” a title associated with protection and governance.
No specific geographic location is named in this verse; the vocative “Dharā” addresses the Earth as a narrative interlocutor rather than indicating a place.
Implicitly, the epithet “Prajāpāla” frames rulership as protective stewardship—an ideal of governance emphasizing safeguarding subjects (prajā) rather than mere power.
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