Varaha Purana 147.8 — Adhyaya 147, Shloka 8

The Sacred Merit of Goniṣkramaṇa

the Tīrtha of the Cows’ Emergence/Release

Devanagari script

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य कश्चिद्ब्रह्मयतिस्तदा ॥ तपस्तपस्यति मुनौ तस्मिन्शैলোच्चये धरे

Transliteration

atha dīrghasya kālasya kaścid brahma-yatis tadā || tapas tapasyati munau tasmin śailocchaye dhare

Translation

ثم بعد زمنٍ طويل ظهر ناسكٌ من أهل البرهمن (brahma-yati)؛ وعلى تلك القمّة الجبلية الشامخة كان ذلك الحكيم يمارس التقشّف (tapas).

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• dīrghasya: of long
• dīrghasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying kālasya)

• kālasya: of time/period
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kaścit: someone
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• brahma-yatiḥ: a Brahman ascetic
• brahma-yatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to kaścit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः यतिः)

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (object of tapasyati)

• tapasyati: practises austerity
• tapasyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tapas (धातु: तपस्/तपस्य)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• munau: at/with the sage
• munau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tasmin: in that (place)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• śaila-ucchaye: on the mountain-peak/massif
• śaila-ucchaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + ucchaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शैलस्य उच्चयः)

• dhare: on the mountain
• dhare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; appositional locative to śailocchaye)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धर’ = पर्वत/धरणीधर (mountain-bearer)

Speaker

Varāha

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":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, attentive (listener to sacred-geographic narration)","key_question":"None (narrative continuation about a tīrtha and an ascetic’s tapas)"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

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

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":"tapas/niyama (ascetic discipline)","core_concept":"Long-duration austerity as a force that reshapes sacred space and draws divine attention.","practical_application":"Cultivate steadiness (dhairya) and restraint; choose sattvic places and sustained practice rather than short-lived zeal."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain/peak; ascetic retreat zone

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 147.9–13 (Goniṣkrama tīrtha; arrival of Īśvara; burning of āśrama)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary brahma-yati on a lofty mountain ledge, seated in austerity amid rugged rocks and sparse trees, the sense of long time passing.","item_prompts":["ascetic with matted hair (jaṭā) and deer-skin/valkala","mountain peak with cliffs","meditation posture","minimal water-pot (kamaṇḍalu) and staff","distant sky suggesting passage of time"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Earthy mountain palette; stylized ascetic with clear mudrā; layered rocky forms; calm śānta bhāva.","tanjore_prompt":"Central ascetic figure with subtle gold highlights on halo/sky; ornate but restrained framing; mountain rendered as decorative tiers.","mysore_prompt":"Soft shading on rocks and skin tones; delicate linework for jaṭā and garments; serene contemplative atmosphere.","pahari_prompt":"Himalayan-style crags, cool blues/greys; small ascetic figure emphasizing vast landscape; lyrical minimalism."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative, narrative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"steady, restrained, descriptive"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ascetic Traditions
• Sacred Geography
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It introduces an ascetic archetype (brahma-yati) and anchors practice in a specific landscape feature (mountain height), reflecting how Purāṇas sacralize terrain.

Which geographic location is identified?

A “śailocchaya” (lofty mountain height) is mentioned; it likely refers back to the Himaśṛṅga peak context.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Persistence and discipline in contemplative practice over extended time.