Varaha Purana 201.4 — Adhyaya 201, Shloka 4

The Battle between the Rākṣasas and Yama’s Attendant-Messengers

Devanagari script

ततो विवृत्तरक्ताक्षस्तेन वाक्येन रोषितः ॥ विनिःश्वस्य यथा नागो ह्यपश्यत्सर्वतो दिशम् ॥

Transliteration

tato vivṛtta-raktākṣas tena vākyena roṣitaḥ || viniḥśvasya yathā nāgo hy apaśyat sarvato diśam ||

Translation

پھر اُس کی آنکھیں سرخ ہو کر گھومنے لگیں؛ اُن باتوں سے وہ غضبناک ہوا۔ وہ سانپ کی طرح زور سے سانس چھوڑ کر ہر سمت دیکھنے لگا۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (अनन्तरम्-अव्यय)

• vivṛtta-rakta-akṣaḥ: (he) with rolled/bulging red eyes
• vivṛtta-rakta-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivṛtta + rakta + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारयः (विवृत्ताः रक्ताः अक्षी यस्य/विवृत्तरक्ताक्षः)

• tena: by that/with that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; सर्वनाम

• vākyena: by the statement/words
• vākyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• roṣitaḥ: angered
• roṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ruṣ (रुष् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viniḥśvasya: having exhaled/snorted
• viniḥśvasya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + nis + √śvas (श्वस् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थ), ‘having sighed/snorted’

• yathā: like/as
• yathā: Upamāna (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative adverb (उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय)

• nāgaḥ: an elephant
• nāgaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• apaśyat: saw/looked
• apaśyat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (दिक्/देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Ṛṣi-putra (narratorial continuation; speaker tag earlier in 201.1)

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":false,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"rajaniti","instruction_summary":"Anger in leadership should be restrained; reacting with krodha to petitions clouds judgment and escalates conflict.","karmic_consequence":"Unchecked krodha leads to rash acts and harm; restraint yields clarity, justice, and stability."}

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":"mind-discipline","core_concept":"Krodha distorts perception; the ‘looking in all directions’ signals a mind searching for targets rather than solutions.","practical_application":"Pause before acting when anger rises; regulate breath (prāṇa) to prevent speech/acts that create lasting harm."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Narrative Literature","Emotion (Krodha) Motif","Conflict Prelude"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka

Geographic Context

Type: battle-prelude space

Cross References

Related Themes: Builds toward encounter with a ‘formless’ person (201.5).

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An enraged figure with bloodshot, rolling eyes exhales like a serpent, scanning the horizon in every direction.","item_prompts":["reddened eyes","visible forceful breath","serpent motif in background or breath-shape","wide directional gaze","tense stance"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: exaggerated expressive eyes, dynamic breath lines, coiled-serpent visual metaphor; strong reds and blacks to convey raudra.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: dramatic central figure with gold highlights on ornaments; stylized breath-cloud; directional attendants blurred in background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: controlled yet intense expression; fine detailing of eyes; subtle atmospheric breath effect.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: sharp profile and intense gaze; minimalistic breath swirl; landscape indicating ‘all directions’ with simple hills/sky bands."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"fierce, suspenseful","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"forceful, clipped consonants, rising intensity"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Sanskrit Poetics
• Classical Narrative
• Mythic Cycles

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It showcases a standard Sanskrit narrative technique: physicalized emotion (anger) conveyed through ocular description and animal simile.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified; the verse describes a character’s reaction and scanning of directions.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Implicitly, it warns of anger’s escalation in conflict settings, portraying how speech can trigger volatile responses.