Varaha Purana 174.90 — Adhyaya 174, Shloka 90

The Sanctifying Power of River Confluences: Release from the Preta-State and the Rite of Śravaṇa Dvādaśī with Vāmana Worship

Devanagari script

अरण्ये कण्टकवृते निर्जने शब्दवर्जिते ॥ तान्दृष्ट्वा विकृताकारानतितीव्रभयङ्करान्

Transliteration

araṇye kaṇṭakavṛte nirjane śabdavarjite || tāndṛṣṭvā vikṛtākārānatitīvrabhayaṅkarān

Translation

في غابةٍ مكسوّةٍ بالشوك، موحشةٍ خاليةٍ من الصوت، لمّا رأى أولئك ذوي الأشكال المشوّهة، شديدي الرهبة، ...

Word by Word

• अरण्ये: in the forest
• अरण्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन

• कण्टक-वृते: surrounded by thorns
• कण्टक-वृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कण्टकैः वृतम्); कृदन्तः—क्त (PPP)

• निर्जने: in a lonely/deserted (place)
• निर्जने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अरण्ये इत्यस्य)

• शब्द-वर्जिते: devoid of sound
• शब्द-वर्जिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शब्देन वर्जितम् = devoid of sound); कृदन्तः—क्त (PPP)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/acc.), बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• विकृत-आकारान्: of distorted forms
• विकृत-आकारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/acc.), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (विकृतः आकारः येषाम्)

• अति-तीव्र-भयङ्करान्: extremely terrifying
• अति-तीव्र-भयङ्करान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भयङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (अतितीव्रं भयम् करोति इति; ‘extremely terrifying’)

Speaker

Varāha (default, narrative voice not explicitly marked)

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":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":"moral psychology (fear as karmic mirror)","core_concept":"Encounter with terrifying, distorted beings signals hidden causes (karma/adharma) that the narrative is about to disclose.","practical_application":"Treat fear-inducing visions/conditions as prompts for self-examination and seeking instruction/remedy rather than panic."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Narrative Literature","Ethics","Cultural Imagery of Fear/Otherworldly Beings"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayānaka

Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: forest/wilderness

Cross References

Related Themes: 174.174.2

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A desolate thorny forest, unnaturally silent; grotesque, terrifying beings with distorted bodies appear to the viewer’s gaze.","item_prompts":["dense thorns and scrub","empty, soundless atmosphere (no birds)","twisted trees","distorted भयङ्कर beings","dim light / dusk palette"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic dark-green/brown forest with stylized thorn patterns; exaggerated demon-like figures with sharp features; strong chiaroscuro; tense composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate but ominous forest border; central grotesque figures with high contrast; selective gold used sparingly for eerie highlights (eyes/ornaments).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: detailed foliage and thorn texture; expressive भय on faces; controlled palette; cinematic depth with receding forest.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: angular trees and rocky ground; narrative figures small against vast wilderness; stylized frightening beings with bold outlines; twilight wash."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"tense, suspenseful, ominous","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"low, grave, suspense-building"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sanskrit Poetics (Descriptive Setting)
• Indic Demonology (as literary motif)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies Purāṇic narrative style through environmental description (austere forest imagery) used to frame ethical or ritual instruction that follows.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific named location; it is a generic araṇya (forest) setting typical of Sanskrit narrative geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse itself sets atmosphere rather than prescribing conduct; it prepares the reader for a causal explanation and ensuing norms in subsequent verses.