Varaha Purana 208.49 — Adhyaya 208, Shloka 49

Narration of the Exemplum of the Pativratā

Devoted Wife

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता महादेवी तेन राज्ञा तपोधन ॥ उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं प्रहसन्ती नृपाङ्गना ॥

Transliteration

evamuktā mahādevī tena rājñā tapodhana || uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ prahasantī nṛpāṅganā ||

Translation

ครั้นพระราชาตรัสดังนี้แล้ว โอ้ผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยตบะ มหาเทวี—สตรีแห่งราชสำนักนั้น—ทรงแย้มสรวลและตรัสถ้อยคำอันไพเราะ

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• उक्ता: having been addressed/spoken to
• उक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (महादेवी)

• महा-देवी: the great queen/lady
• महा-देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; 'by him'

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by the king' (apposition to 'तेन')

• तपोधन: O treasure of austerity (sage)
• तपोधन: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ऋषिसम्बोधन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'वाक्यम्')

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रहसन्ती: smiling/laughing
• प्रहसन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (नृपाङ्गना)

• नृप-अङ्गना: the king's lady (queen)
• नृप-अङ्गना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'नृपस्य अङ्गना'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (implicit)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}

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":"nīti (speech-ethics)","core_concept":"Sweet, timely speech (madhura-vāk) harmonizes relationships and makes duty bearable.","practical_application":"When correcting, advising, or negotiating roles, use gentle speech and a composed demeanor to preserve concord."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Literary Culture","Ecology"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śṛṅgāra

Secondary Rasa: hāsya

Geographic Context

Type: agrarian worksite / narrative stage

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 208.56 (content of the lady’s observation follows)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The royal lady smiles and begins to speak sweetly, with the narrator highlighting her demeanor and the attentive setting.","item_prompts":["lady smiling (prahasantī)","king listening attentively","soft hand gesture indicating speech","background of field and shrubs","calm, intimate courtly posture"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: expressive eyes and gentle smile; stylized hand mudrā for speech; warm palette; narrative caption-like clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly adorned lady with gold-leaf jewelry; poised smile; king slightly turned toward her; minimal but decorative landscape.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate facial expression and refined textiles; subtle smile emphasized; balanced composition focusing on dialogue.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical portrait-like dialogue scene; gentle expressions; light landscape wash behind the figures."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"soft, anticipatory, affectionate","suggested_raga":"Mohanam","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"gentle, smiling, narrative-sweet"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Dialogue Framing
• Gendered Courtly Speech

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows conventional Purāṇic narration: reported speech, honorific epithets, and courtly tone, which help reconstruct literary style and social registers.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is identified in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse models civil dialogue and cooperative disposition (smiling, sweet speech) in the context of shared work.