Varaha Purana 138.6 — Adhyaya 138, Shloka 6
The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird
and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit
नृत्यतः कि भवेत्पुण्यं जाग्रतो वा फलं नु किम् ॥ गोदातुरन्नदातुर्वा जलदातुस्तु किं फलम्।
nṛtyataḥ ki bhavet puṇyaṃ jāgrato vā phalaṃ nu kim || godātur annadātur vā jaladātus tu kiṃ phalam
“رقص کرنے والے کو کون سا پُنّیہ ملتا ہے؟ یا جاگ کر پہرہ دینے والے کو کیا پھل ہے؟ گائے دینے والے، اناج دینے والے یا پانی دینے والے کو کیا ثمر حاصل ہوتا ہے؟”
Pṛthivī (default inquirer framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Earth requests Varāha to quantify fruits of specific meritorious acts (dance, vigil, gifts) in the kṣetra context"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"curious, practically oriented (seeking actionable dharma)","key_question":"What merit/fruit comes from dancing, keeping vigil, and giving cows/food/water?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Saukārava-kṣetra (implied continuing setting)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Asks for the phala of dāna (go-dāna, anna-dāna, jala-dāna) and ritualized devotional acts (nṛtya, jāgaraṇa) performed in a sacred field.","karmic_consequence":"Implied: these acts generate puṇya and specific fruits; omission is not ‘sin’ per se, but neglect of dharmic opportunity forfeits merit (phala-hāni)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Jāgaraṇa (night-vigil) as vrata-aṅga / tīrtha-jāgara","tithi_month":"Not specified here (general)","promised_fruit":"Merit proportional to devotion and context; typically said to grant purification and higher worlds—details expected in Varāha’s reply beyond this verse."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-yoga in tīrtha context","core_concept":"Embodied actions—celebratory (nṛtya), disciplined (jāgara), and compassionate (dāna)—are vehicles of purification when offered with right intention.","practical_application":"Convert festival energy into devotion (dance as offering), practice mindful vigil (jāgara with japa/kīrtana), and prioritize life-supporting gifts (water/food) and dharma-supporting gifts (cow) according to capacity."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Heritage Sites"]
Primary Rasa: jijñāsā (inquisitive)
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: pilgrimage field / ritual venue
Related Themes: Follow-up on offerings and temple service (138.7)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bhu Devī enumerates acts—dance, night vigil, and gifts of cows, food, and water—asking Varāha for their fruits.","item_prompts":["Bhu Devī counting points on fingers (enumeration)","symbolic vignettes: dancer with cymbals, lamp-lit vigil, cow with garland, food offering, water pot","Varāha listening as teacher"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split-register composition showing small vignettes (nṛtya, jāgara with lamps, go-dāna, anna-dāna, jala-dāna) around the central dialogue; bold colors and clear iconography.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central gold-haloed Varāha; side panels with embossed motifs—cow, golden lamp, overflowing food bowl, water kalaśa—rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant narrative with subtle vignettes in background; refined detailing of lamp glow for vigil and gentle cow depiction.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: charming miniature-like scenes of village-temple charity—cow led by donor, water pot at well, food distribution—set around the main dialogue under trees."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic inquiry","suggested_raga":"Kalyani/Yaman (for clarity and uplift)","pace":"madhyama","voice_tone":"bright, enumerative, with clear pauses between each act"}
FAQs
It catalogues culturally prominent practices (dance, vigil, gifting) and asks for their phala, reflecting how Purāṇic texts systematize social-ritual ethics.
No specific place-name appears in this verse; it continues the didactic inquiry likely situated within the Saukārava-kṣetra discussion.
It elevates charitable giving (especially essentials like food and water) and disciplined observance (vigil) as evaluable moral acts with consequences.
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