Varaha Purana 91.4 — Adhyaya 91, Shloka 4

The Vaiṣṇavī Goddess on Mount Mandara: Emergence of the Maidens, Construction of the Goddess-City, and Nārada’s Visit

Devanagari script

देव्याः अनुचराः सर्वाः पाशाङ्कुशधराः शुभाः । ताभिः परिवृता देवी सिंहासनगता शुभा ॥

Transliteration

devyāḥ anucarāḥ sarvāḥ pāśāṅkuśadharāḥ śubhāḥ | tābhiḥ parivṛtā devī siṃhāsanagatā śubhā ||

Translation

كانت جميعُ خادماتِ الإلهة مباركاتٍ يحملن الحبالَ والخطاطيف؛ وقد أحطن بها، فجلست الإلهة المباركة على عرشٍ من أسد.

Word by Word

• devyāḥ: of the goddess
• devyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन

• anucarāḥ: attendants/followers
• anucarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anucara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• pāśa: noose
• pāśa: Upapada (उपपद/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• aṅkuśa: goad/hook
• aṅkuśa: Upapada (उपपद/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• dharāḥ: bearing (holding)
• dharāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) → dhara (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त/कर्तरि-ण्वुल् (agent noun): 'bearing'; समास: pāśa-aṅkuśa-dhara (noose-and-goad-bearers)

• śubhāḥ: auspicious/beautiful
• śubhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• tābhiḥ: by them
• tābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• parivṛtā: surrounded
• parivṛtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + vṛ (धातु) → parivṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, PPP): 'surrounded'

• devī: the goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• siṃhāsana: lion-throne
• siṃhāsana: Upapada (उपपद/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण); तत्पुरुष: 'lion-throne'

• gatā: seated (gone onto)
• gatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP): 'gone/placed'; समास: siṃhāsana-gatā = 'seated on the throne'

• śubhā: auspicious/beautiful
• śubhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

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":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":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":"theology/iconography","core_concept":"Śakti’s sovereignty is expressed through orderly retinue and emblems (pāśa, aṅkuśa) that signify governance of beings and impulses.","practical_application":"Use iconography as a contemplative aid: meditate on restraint (pāśa) and guidance (aṅkuśa) as inner disciplines."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Theology (Textual)","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine court/āsana-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 91.91.13-16 (continuation of the Goddess’s courtly-tapas narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant Goddess seated on a lion-throne, encircled by auspicious female attendants holding nooses and goads in symmetrical formation.","item_prompts":["lion-throne (siṃhāsana)","attendants (anu-carāḥ)","pāśa (noose)","aṅkuśa (goad)","halo/tejas","courtly symmetry"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: frontal Devī on ornate siṃhāsana, bold outlines, flat jewel-tones, attendants with pāśa-aṅkuśa, lotus motifs, serene face.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Devī on lion-throne with heavy gold-leaf arch, embossed jewelry, attendants flanking with pāśa-aṅkuśa, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate shading, refined ornaments, soft glow, attendants in graceful poses holding pāśa-aṅkuśa, detailed throne carving.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical court scene, pale background, stylized throne, attendants in flowing garments with pāśa-aṅkuśa, emphasis on elegance over grandeur."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic and contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, resonant, reverential"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Iconography
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents emblematic attributes (pāśa, aṅkuśa) and throne imagery that are important for the study of South Asian iconography and textual-art historical correlation.

Which geographic location is identified?

No explicit location is given; the verse focuses on iconographic and courtly imagery.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Implicitly, it presents ideals of order, protection, and restraint symbolized by the noose and goad, without issuing a direct command.