Varaha Purana 155.56 — Adhyaya 155, Shloka 56
The Efficacy and Sacred Merit of Akrūra Tīrtha
अग्निदत्तस्तु वै नाम छान्दसो ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ॥ इष्टकांस्तु हरन्नित्यं परकीयांश्च सर्वदा
agnidattas tu vai nāma chāndaso brāhmaṇottamaḥ || iṣṭakāṃs tu haran nityaṃ parakīyāṃś ca sarvadā
“Ako’y tinawag na Agnidatta, isang Chāndasa, isang dakilang brāhmaṇa. Ngunit palagi kong ninanakaw ang mga laryo—yaong pag-aari ng iba, sa lahat ng panahon.”
Rākṣasa / Brahma-rākṣasa (narrating former identity)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"Even a learned brāhmaṇa falls by repeated theft—appropriating others’ building materials (iṣṭakā) is a serious transgression with grave post-mortem results.","karmic_consequence":"Habitual theft leads to degradation (rākṣasa/brahma-rākṣasa condition) and obstructs auspicious rebirth; restitution/atonement is implied as the remedy."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics of conduct over status","core_concept":"Varṇa/learning does not shield one from karmic law; repeated small transgressions harden into destiny-shaping saṃskāras.","practical_application":"Avoid ‘minor’ habitual dishonesty; if wrong has been done, make restitution and break the pattern through disciplined vows and charity."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Karma Doctrine","Social History (Norms and Transgression)"]
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: settlement/ritual-construction milieu
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 155.64 (desire for a fine home as the driving attachment)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Flashback-like confession: Agnidatta as a brāhmaṇa secretly carrying away bricks from others’ property, foreshadowing his monstrous fate.","item_prompts":["brāhmaṇa with brick bundle","furtive glance","stacked bricks/altar-like pile","shadowy transformation hint (rākṣasa silhouette overlay)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split-scene—left: brāhmaṇa stealing bricks; right: brahma-rākṣasa form; strong moral contrast with stylized flames/altar motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic brāhmaṇa figure with bricks; gold highlights on bricks/altar; secondary vignette of rākṣasa visage in background medallion.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: narrative realism—brick texture, subtle guilt expression; restrained supernatural hinting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: gentle yet pointed moral tableau; village construction site; small rākṣasa shadow cast behind the thief."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"confessional, admonitory","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"heavy, remorse-tinged, emphasizing ‘nityam’ and ‘sarvadā’ (habituality)"}
FAQs
It provides a moralized biography: high social/religious status is contrasted with habitual theft, illustrating a Purāṇic theme that conduct (karma) outweighs nominal identity.
No explicit place-name is present; the transgression is described through property relations (“belonging to others”).
Persistent appropriation of others’ property is treated as a serious ethical breach with transformative consequences in the karmic narrative logic.
Ask anything about this verse
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