Varaha Purana 170.22 — Adhyaya 170, Shloka 22

The Birth of Gokarṇa and the Fruits of Śiva Worship

including the Śukodara Parrot Episode and Hospitality Ethics

Devanagari script

वयोरूपगुणोपेतास्तस्य भार्याः सुलोचनाः ॥ अप्रजा एव ताः सर्वा नाभवत्पुत्रिणी क्वचित् ॥

Transliteration

vayorūpaguṇopetās tasya bhāryāḥ sulocanāḥ | aprajā eva tāḥ sarvā nābhavat putriṇī kvacit ||

Translation

ภรรยาของเขาผู้มีดวงตางดงามนั้นเพียบพร้อมด้วยวัย รูปโฉม และคุณธรรม; กระนั้นก็ดี ทุกนางล้วนไร้บุตร และไม่มีผู้ใดได้เป็นมารดาแห่งบุตรเลย

Word by Word

• vayaḥ-rūpa-guṇa-upetāḥ: endowed with youth, beauty, and virtues
• vayaḥ-rūpa-guṇa-upetāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; agrees with bhāryāḥ; multi-member compound, treated as तत्पुरुष (upetāḥ = endowed with; vayaḥ-rūpa-guṇaiḥ upetāḥ)

• tasya: of him, his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• bhāryāḥ: wives
• bhāryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• su-locanāḥ: beautiful-eyed
• su-locanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + locanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with bhāryāḥ; कर्मधारयः (sundarā locanā yāsām)

• aprajāḥ: childless
• aprajāḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; a- negation + prajā ‘having offspring’; predicate adjective of tāḥ

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; pronoun

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with tāḥ

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धा॒तु)
• Form: Tinganta; Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; from √bhū ‘to be’

• putriṇī: having a son/child-bearing
• putriṇī: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putrinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective; used distributively with tāḥ (each)

• kvacit: ever, at any time
• kvacit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देश/कालवाचक)

Speaker

Varāha (default, speaker not explicit in fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"observer"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"reflection on karma/daiva","core_concept":"External excellences (रूप, गुण) are not sovereign over outcomes; unseen causes (daiva/karma) may obstruct desired फल.","practical_application":"Cultivate equanimity and seek dharmic means (prayer, charity, vows, ethical living) without reducing persons to ‘utility’ (progeny)."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Social History"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuṇa

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: narratives where lack of progeny motivates tīrtha/vrata (general)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four virtuous, beautiful wives shown together, yet the household atmosphere carries quiet sorrow due to childlessness.","item_prompts":["four women with gentle, dignified posture","empty cradle or symbolic absence","subdued household setting","soft, contemplative expressions"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: grouped female figures with stylized eyes (sulocanā), muted palette to convey karuṇa, minimal props indicating absence of children.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: richly adorned women with gold detailing, but with an empty cradle motif; contrast opulence with emotional restraint.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate facial expressions, refined jewelry, quiet interior scene, emphasis on mood over action.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical domestic vignette, four figures in bright garments against a simple background, a poignant empty cradle symbol."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"softly sorrowful, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavī (or Tōḍī)","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"gentle, reflective"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Gender and Family in Sanskrit Texts
• Cultural History

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a common Purāṇic narrative motif: personal virtues and social desirability do not necessarily correlate with progeny, shaping the story’s moral and plot progression.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic identification is present here.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse underscores contingency in human life—socially valued attributes do not guarantee desired outcomes.