Varaha Purana 208.22 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 22

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

एतदिच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥ एतनमे सुमहाभाग कथयस्व समासतः ।

Transliteration

etad icchāmy ahaṃ jñātuṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me || etan me sumahābhāga kathayasva samāsataḥ

Translation

“ข้าพเจ้าปรารถนาจะทราบเรื่องนี้ ความใคร่รู้ของข้าพเจ้ามีมากนัก โอ้ท่านผู้มีบุญยิ่ง โปรดเล่าให้ข้าพเจ้าฟังโดยย่อเถิด”

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; इच्छामि इत्यस्य कर्म

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), उद्देश्य/प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• परम्: great/utter
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कौतूहलम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity
• कौतूहलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: emphasis/indeed)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कथयस्व इत्यस्य कर्म

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• सुमहाभाग: O very fortunate one
• सुमहाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (सु-महाभाग)

• कथयस्व: tell (you)
• कथयस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• समासतः: briefly
• समासतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: briefly/in summary)

Speaker

Nārada

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"Please explain concisely who she is and the significance of her appearance and departure; my curiosity is great."}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"pedagogical method","core_concept":"Jijñāsā (earnest inquiry) and saṃkṣepa (concise teaching) as complementary: the student requests clarity; the teacher structures knowledge.","practical_application":"When seeking dharma, ask focused questions and request actionable summaries before deeper elaboration."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic-court / teaching-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 208.26 (Yama’s promise to narrate)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close conversational moment: Nārada leans forward with eager curiosity, requesting a concise explanation from Dharmarāja.","item_prompts":["Nārada’s attentive posture","hand gesture indicating request for brevity","Dharmarāja composed and listening","scroll or palm-leaf manuscript motif to suggest teaching"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: expressive hand-mudrās; Nārada’s face bright with curiosity; Dharmarāja calm, frontal, with minimal background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold haloed figures; Nārada’s vīṇā and ornaments; Dharmarāja enthroned; emphasis on didactic court grandeur.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: nuanced expressions; gentle interior lighting; fine textile patterns; restrained ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate dialogue vignette; soft hills/architectural frame; delicate gestures and eye contact."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"curious, inviting","suggested_raga":"Śuddha Sāveri","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"bright, inquisitive, courteous"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Sanskrit Pedagogical Formulas

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a didactic convention: the learner’s inquiry (praśna) authorizes the teacher’s narrative, structuring knowledge transmission in Sanskrit literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

None is stated in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

An epistemic ethic is implied: sincere inquiry and disciplined brevity are valued modes for transmitting and receiving knowledge.