Varaha Purana 152.49: Adhyaya 152, Shloka 49

Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā

Devanagari script

तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान् द्युमणिः प्रत्यभाषत॥ किं कारणं बले ब्रूहि तपस्यसि महत्तपः॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 152.49

Transliteration

tasya prasanno bhagavān dyumaṇiḥ pratyabhāṣata || kiṁ kāraṇaṁ bale brūhi tapasyasi mahattapaḥ ||

Translation

ولما رضي عنه المبارك ديومانِي (الشمس) خاطبه: «قل لي يا بالي، ما السبب الذي لأجله تمارس هذا التقشّف العظيم؟»

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Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dyumaṇiḥ: Dyumaṇi (the radiant one)
• dyumaṇiḥ: Apposition (समाधिकरण/Appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyumaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Sūrya

• prati-abhāṣata: replied/spoke in return
• prati-abhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative

• kāraṇam: reason/cause
• kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bale: O Bali
• bale: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tapasyasi: you perform austerity
• tapasyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tapas (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahat-tapaḥ: great penance
• mahat-tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘great austerity’

Speaker

Dyumaṇi (Sūrya)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"curious; witnessing a model dialogue of deity and devotee","key_question":"What is the true motive behind severe tapas—worldly gain, dharma, or liberation?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"discernment of intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi)","core_concept":"Even when pleased, the deity interrogates the cause—boons are framed by motive; tapas without clarified purpose is incomplete.","practical_application":"Before undertaking severe vows, articulate a dharmic intention; examine whether the goal aligns with responsibility and restraint."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Philosophy","Ethics","Mythic History"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: theophany (divine apparition)

Cross References

Related Themes: 152.55.0 (Bali’s stated motive); 152.56.0 (boon granted)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sūrya (Dyumaṇi) appears, radiant and pleased, speaking to Bali and asking the reason for his great austerity.","item_prompts":["radiant solar deity with halo","gesture of speech/boon-granting","Bali in ascetic posture","light rays touching the devotee","aura indicating prasāda (pleasure)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Sūrya with ornate crown and circular prabhāmaṇḍala; Bali below; speech gesture; rich reds and gold-ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: embossed gold halo for Sūrya; strong frontal iconography; Bali smaller in devotion; decorative arch framing the theophany.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant Sūrya figure with soft glow; refined facial expressions; balanced composition emphasizing dialogue.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: luminous disc-like Sūrya with anthropomorphic form; delicate rays; intimate conversational spacing between deity and devotee."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"revelatory, inquisitive","suggested_raga":"Kalyani (for luminous clarity)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"bright yet measured, interrogative on the question"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Solar Cult Traditions

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It marks a shift into direct dialogue (deity–devotee), a common Purāṇic device used to articulate motives, ethics, and the rationale of practices.

Which geographic location is identified?

The dialogue is embedded in the Sūryatīrtha episode; the verse itself does not specify further geographic identifiers.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds intentionality: practices are evaluated through stated reasons and aims, encouraging reflective motivation rather than rote action.