Varaha Purana 210.40 — Adhyaya 210, Shloka 40

Inquiry into Moral Agency (Karma) and Practical Means for the Dissolution of Sin: the Śiśumāra Contemplation

Devanagari script

दुष्करं पूर्वमुक्तं हि योगधर्मस्य साधनम् ॥ पापापहरणं लोके यदन्यत्सुखसाधनम् ॥

Transliteration

duṣkaraṃ pūrvam uktaṃ hi yoga-dharmasya sādhanam | pāpāpaharaṇaṃ loke yad anyat sukha-sādhanam ||

Translation

“เพราะการปฏิบัติที่กล่าวไว้ก่อนหน้านี้ คือวินัยแห่งโยคธรรม นั้นยากยิ่ง ดังนั้นในโลกนี้ โปรดกล่าวถึงวิธีอื่นที่ชำระบาปและทำได้โดยง่าย”

Word by Word

• दुष्करम्: difficult
• दुष्करम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूर्वम्: previously
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: earlier)

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

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

• योगधर्मस्य: of the discipline/dharma of yoga
• योगधर्मस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (योगस्य धर्मः)

• साधनम्: means/practice
• साधनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पापापहरणम्: removal of sin
• पापापहरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + अपहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (पापस्य अपहरणम्)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुखसाधनम्: means to happiness
• सुखसाधनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सुखस्य साधनम्)

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":"Since yoga-dharma is difficult, what alternative easy practice removes sin in the world?"}

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":"ethics of means (upāya)","core_concept":"Not all are fit for arduous yoga; śāstra provides alternative purifying means that are ‘sukha-sādhana’ yet effective.","practical_application":"Choose disciplines that are sustainable (daily, simple) and directly reduce harmful tendencies—truthfulness, restraint, devotion, charity, remembrance—rather than sporadic extremes."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Yoga","Ritual Practice"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue-setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 210.43 (request for alpatara upāya); Varāha Purāṇa 210.45–46 (alpopāya, self-dependent means)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada contrasts the difficulty of yoga-dharma with the need for an easy sin-removing practice, gesturing as if weighing two paths.","item_prompts":["two-path motif (austere yogi vs simple devotee)","Nārada indicating ‘difficult’ with one hand and ‘easy’ with the other","teacher attentive, composed"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: symbolic split composition—left austere yogic imagery, right simple devotional act—while Nārada narrates; bold outlines, warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central teacher-lord; side panels showing tapas-yoga (austere) and easy dharma (lamp/flowers/charity); gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: narrative clarity with soft colors; subtle allegory of two approaches; elegant mudrās.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: miniature-like vignettes of yogic austerity and simple worship; lyrical landscape; Nārada as narrator."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"reflective, persuasive","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"reasoned, compassionate"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Yoga Traditions
• Practical Dharma

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse highlights internal pluralism in Sanskrit traditions: rigorous yogic sādhanā is acknowledged, while alternative, more accessible practices are sought—useful for studying the social reach of Purāṇic instruction.

Which geographic location is identified?

None; the verse is programmatic and practical rather than geographic.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It prioritizes a method that is both morally effective (removes pāpa) and practically attainable (sukha-sādhana).