Varaha Purana 193.4 — Adhyaya 193, Shloka 4

Naciketas’ Journey to Yama’s Abode and the Eulogy of Truthfulness

Devanagari script

ऋषिं परमसंपन्नं वैशम्पायनमञ्जसा ॥ कर्मणा प्रेरितस्तेन चिन्ताव्याकुललोचनः ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣiṃ paramasampannaṃ vaiśampāyanam añjasā || karmaṇā preritastena cintāvyākulalocanaḥ

Translation

เขาเข้าไปหาโดยตรงยังฤๅษีผู้สมบูรณ์ยิ่ง คือไวศัมปายนะ; ด้วยแรงผลักดันจากกรรมนั้น ดวงตาของเขาพร่าไหวด้วยความกังวล

Word by Word

• ṛṣiṃ: seer, sage

• paramasampannam: supremely accomplished

• vaiśampāyanam: Vaiśampāyana

• añjasā: directly, without delay

• karmaṇā: by (a) deed/act

• preritaḥ: impelled, driven

• tena: by that

• cintā: anxiety, worry

• vyākula: agitated

• locanaḥ: eyes (having eyes)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual narration)

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":"karma-phala causality (psychological ripening)","core_concept":"Karma does not only yield external results; it also agitates the mind (chintā-vyākulatā) as an immediate ‘inner fruit’ prompting inquiry and repentance.","practical_application":"Treat remorse/anxiety as a signal to seek śāstra-guidance and corrective action rather than rationalization."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuṇa

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: court-to-āśrama transition (narrative setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: Janamejaya–Vaiśampāyana dialogue frame (adjacent verses 193.5–193.8)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worried kingly figure (or narrator’s mental tableau) turning toward the serene seer Vaiśampāyana; the seer sits composed while the inquirer’s eyes show anxious thought.","item_prompts":["Vaiśampāyana seated on kuśa/āsana","palm-leaf manuscript or japa-mālā","anxious eyes (vyākula-locana) of the approaching figure","simple āśrama backdrop with trees and riverbank suggestion"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: warm earthy palette; Vaiśampāyana frontal, calm; the anxious figure in three-quarter pose with expressive eyes; stylized foliage and temple-lamp ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central seated sage with ornate halo; gold-leaf accents on ornaments/āsana border; the anxious petitioner smaller at the side with folded hands.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework; subdued colors; emphasis on facial expression—sage’s serenity vs. petitioner’s worry; minimal background with āśrama cues.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical hillside-āśrama setting; slender figures; emphasis on narrative gesture—approach and attentive gaze; cool greens and soft sky."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave, reflective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"vilambita (slow)","voice_tone":"soft but weighty, with slight tremor on words indicating anxiety (chintā, vyākula)."}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Karma Theory

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a standard Purāṇic narrative device: a troubled agent approaches a recognized transmitter of tradition (here, Vaiśampāyana) to resolve questions of karma and consequence.

Which geographic location is identified?

No new location is specified in this verse; it continues the approach toward the sage introduced in the preceding line.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Actions (karma) are portrayed as causally compelling, producing psychological disturbance that motivates ethical inquiry and corrective practice.