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Varaha Purana 128.36 — Adhyaya 128, Shloka 36

Rites for the comb, collyrium, and mirror; initiations for the four social orders; and the Gaṇāntikā vow/insignia

ततो महीवचः श्रुत्वा मेघदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनः ॥ वराहरूपी भगवानुवाच स महाद्युतिः

tato mahīvacaḥ śrutvā meghadundubhiniḥsvanaḥ || varāharūpī bhagavān uvāca sa mahādyutiḥ

پھر زمین کے کلمات سن کر، بادل اور نقّارے کی گونج جیسی آواز والے، عظیم جلال کے حامل، ورہاہ روپ بھگوان نے ارشاد فرمایا۔

tataḥthen/thereupon
tataḥ:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottataḥ (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘thereupon/from that’
mahī-vacaḥEarth’s words
mahī-vacaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmahī (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (वचस्, प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘speech/words of Earth’
śrutvāhaving heard
śrutvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśru (श्रु, धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having heard’
megha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaḥwhose sound was like thunder and a drum
megha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootmegha (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective of varāharūpī/bhagavān; ‘having a sound like cloud and kettle-drum’
varāha-rūpīin the form of a boar
varāha-rūpī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvarāha (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (रूपिन्, प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective of bhagavān
bhagavānthe Lord
bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (भगवत्, प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (वच्, धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun referring to bhagavān
mahā-dyutiḥof great splendor
mahā-dyutiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti (द्युतिः, प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective of saḥ/bhagavān

Sūta (narration introducing Varāha’s reply)

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"cosmic_power","boar_form_detail":"Varāha is explicitly ‘varāha-rūpī’; voice likened to thunderous cloud and kettle-drum (megha-dundubhi-niḥsvana).","earth_interaction":"He responds after hearing Earth’s words—teacherly reply initiated by her petition."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"heard/acknowledged; awaiting reply","key_question":"Not stated; the verse signals that Varāha is about to answer Earth’s inquiry."}

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

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

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

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The theophanic sound-image (cloud + dundubhi) frames Varāha as cosmic sovereign whose speech itself is a world-ordering force (śabda as dharma/ṛta-carrier).","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Not anatomical here; ‘dundubhi’ evokes ritual drum in yajña/royal proclamation; ‘megha’ evokes rain-giving cosmic regulation.","vedantic_connection":"Hints at īśvara-vāk: divine speech as revelation/teaching that stabilizes dharma; the ‘radiant’ form suggests brahman reflected as saguna teacher."}

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theology of revelation","core_concept":"Divine instruction arises after attentive listening; the Lord’s reply is portrayed as powerful yet orderly—speech as grace.","practical_application":"Cultivate attentive listening and receptivity; treat scriptural teaching as living ‘voice’ that guides conduct."}

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Narrative Frame","Poetics (Simile/Imagery)"]

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Type: None

Related Themes: Leads directly into Varāha’s speech at 128.42

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha, radiant, begins to speak; the atmosphere suggests thunderous resonance like monsoon clouds and ceremonial drums.","item_prompts":["Varāha with luminous aura","stylized cloud forms behind","ritual drum (dundubhi) motif","listeners (Bhūdevī/sages) attentive","sound-waves or reverberation lines"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Varāha with bright halo; dark monsoon-cloud backdrop; rhythmic ornamental depiction of sound; dignified assembly.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold halo and ornaments; embossed drum motif near the throne; cloud patterns in the background; strong frontal iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined shading; subtle cloud textures; Varāha’s calm but commanding expression; balanced composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical clouds and delicate drum detail; intimate court-like setting; emphasis on expressive faces hearing the divine reply."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic, proclamatory","suggested_raga":"Megh (or a grave Bhairav)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"deep, resonant, drum-like cadence"}

C
Classical Literature
V
Vaiṣṇavism
P
Purāṇic Theophany
S
Sanskrit Poetics

FAQs

It showcases Purāṇic stylistics: divine speech is introduced with sensory imagery (cloud/drum resonance) and epithets (mahādyuti), aiding oral-aural reception.

No geographic location is specified in this verse.

Implicitly, it reinforces attentive listening and responsive instruction within a teacher–inquirer framework (Earth speaks; Varāha responds).

Ask anything about this verse

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