Varaha Purana 10.74 — Adhyaya 10, Shloka 74

The Threefold Division by the Guṇas, the Deities’ Attainment of Worship, and the Opening of the Durjaya Episode

Devanagari script

तपस्यन्तं महाभागं नाम्ना गौरमुखं शुभम् । ऋषिवृन्दस्य गोप्तारं त्रातारं पापिनः स्वयम् ॥ १०.७५ ॥

Transliteration

tapasyantaṁ mahābhāgaṁ nāmnā gauramukhaṁ śubham | ṛṣivṛndasya goptāraṁ trātāraṁ pāpinaḥ svayam || 10.75 ||

Translation

ورأى الزاهدَ المباركَ العظيمَ الحظ، المشتغلَ بالتقشّف، المعروفَ باسم «غاوراموخا»؛ حامي جماعة الرِّشي، ومنقذَ حتى المذنبين.

Word by Word

• tapasyantam: performing austerities
• tapasyantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + car (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) of denominative/causative sense 'to practice tapas' (तपस्यति), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies muniṁ (from previous verse)

• mahā-bhāgam: very fortunate/noble
• mahā-bhāgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'greatly fortunate'

• nāmnā: by name
• nāmnā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial: 'by name'

• gaura-mukham: Gauramukha (name)
• gaura-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaura + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); proper name; karmadhāraya: 'fair-faced'

• śubham: auspicious, good
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with muni/gauramukham

• ṛṣi-vṛndasya: of the sages' group
• ṛṣi-vṛndasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi + vṛnda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'of the group of sages'

• goptāram: protector
• goptāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gup (धातु)
• Form: Agent noun in -tṛ (तृन्/तृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• trātāram: saviour
• trātāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trā (धातु)
• Form: Agent noun in -tṛ (तृन्/तृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāpinaḥ: of sinners
• pāpinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठī), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic/reflexive adverb

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in excerpt)

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":"instructor","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":"varnashrama","instruction_summary":"Honor and approach the tapasvin who protects the ṛṣi-community and uplifts even sinners; such a guru is a living institution of dharma.","karmic_consequence":"Reverence to dharmic protectors yields purification and protection; disrespect to such sages invites downfall and loss of merit."}

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":"grace and moral rehabilitation","core_concept":"Tapas and compassion together make a true protector: the saint safeguards the righteous and reforms the fallen.","practical_application":"Seek mentors who combine discipline with mercy; cultivate protective responsibility toward spiritual communities and those in moral distress."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Heritage Sites","Hagiography/Ṛṣi traditions"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: hermitage / tapas-kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Lead-in from the king’s sighting of the muni; sets up the āśrama description (following verses)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close depiction of the ascetic Gauramukha: serene face, radiant austerity, surrounded by respectful ṛṣis and seekers, suggesting his role as guardian and redeemer.","item_prompts":["sage with calm luminous visage","simple ascetic implements (kamaṇḍalu, daṇḍa)","group of ṛṣis nearby","a repentant sinner figure at edge seeking refuge"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Iconic frontal sage with stylized halo; surrounding ṛṣis in orderly composition; subdued yet rich colors emphasizing śānta.","tanjore_prompt":"Sage enthroned on simple seat with gold aura; attendants/ṛṣis in symmetrical arrangement; emphasis on auspiciousness.","mysore_prompt":"Refined facial expression; delicate textiles for ascetic garb; soft background of hermitage grove.","pahari_prompt":"Intimate vignette; sage under a tree; small figures of seekers; lyrical compassion theme."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"reverential, laudatory","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"warm, honoring, slightly elevated on epithets (goptā, trātā)"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaishnavism
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse reflects a common Purāṇic literary motif: legitimizing ethical authority through tapas (austerity) and portraying certain ṛṣis as protectors of learned communities, which helped transmit norms and lineages in early Sanskrit cultural history.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic site is explicitly named in this verse; it focuses on the figure Gauramukha and his role among sages.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds protective responsibility (goptṛtva) and compassionate rescue (trāṇa), presenting moral guardianship as an outcome of disciplined practice (tapas).