Varaha Purana 136.40: Adhyaya 136, Shloka 40

A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions

Devanagari script

तत्र वर्षसहस्राणि दिव्यान्येव दृढव्रतः ॥ ततो भक्षय मांसानि पापक्शयचिकीर्षुकः ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 136.40

Transliteration

tatra varṣasahasrāṇi divyānyeva dṛḍhavrataḥ || tato bhakṣaya māṁsāni pāpakṣayacikīrṣukaḥ ||

Translation

Tại đó, trong hàng nghìn năm thiêng liêng, hãy kiên định với đại nguyện; rồi sau đó hãy dùng thịt, với ước muốn tiêu trừ tội lỗi.

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Word by Word

• varṣa-sahasrāṇi: thousands of years

• divyāni: divine (celestial)

• dṛḍha-vrataḥ: firm in vow

• tataḥ: then

• bhakṣaya: eat/consume

• māṁsāni: flesh

• pāpa-kṣaya: destruction of sin

• cikīrṣukaḥ: wishing to do/intent on

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"earth_rescue"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"Undertake a long, firm vow of residence/penance for thousands of divine years, then perform the prescribed act (here, flesh-eating) specifically as an expiation aimed at sin-destruction.","karmic_consequence":"Properly completed expiation leads to pāpa-kṣaya (attenuation/destruction of sin); neglect or casual performance leaves the impurity unresolved."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Dīrgha-kāla-vrata (extended expiatory vow)","tithi_month":"None (duration-based: ‘thousands of divine years’)","promised_fruit":"Pāpa-kṣaya; eligibility to proceed to higher purificatory stages."}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-śuddhi / adhikāra","core_concept":"Sin is treated as a removable accretion through disciplined, time-extended observance under scriptural guidance.","practical_application":"Frame expiation as staged practice: commit to a defined vow, complete its duration, then proceed to the next purificatory step rather than seeking instant absolution."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: Penance-ground/impure locale (contextual)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 136.45–48 (continuation: residence with gaṇas; Gautama-āśrama; self-knowledge; skull-fall motif)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as authoritative teacher prescribing a severe, long-duration expiation: steadfast vow, then a deliberate, rule-bound consumption of flesh as a ritualized act aimed at sin-destruction.","item_prompts":["Varāha in regal-divine form (teacher posture)","austere penance-ground","time motif (celestial years)","vow-symbols (mālā, kamaṇḍalu, staff)","ritual vessel/plate indicating prescribed consumption"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Varāha as divine instructor with calm, commanding gaze; muted earthy palette; penance-ground with minimal props; emphasis on gesture of instruction (mudrā).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha with ornate crown and halo; gold-leaf aura; attendants minimal; symbolic plate/vessel indicating prescribed rite; strong frontal composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined linework; Varāha seated/standing in teaching pose; soft shading; sparse background suggesting an impure/liminal site; emphasis on solemnity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: hillside/forest-edge penance-ground; Varāha instructing with gentle authority; narrative clarity with small symbolic objects (vow tokens, ritual plate)."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Austere, injunction-like, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"grave, didactic"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Atonement Rites

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse uses the Purāṇic convention of “divine years” to express extended ascetic or penitential timeframes, a common narrative device for emphasizing the gravity of ritual consequence.

Which geographic location is identified?

No explicit toponym appears here; the setting remains the previously referenced “there,” likely a cremation-ground context within the chapter.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It presents purification as a deliberate process involving time, vow-observance, and actions framed as expiatory (pāpakṣaya).