Varaha Purana 146.6 — Adhyaya 146, Shloka 6

The Greatness of Hṛṣīkeśa at Rurukṣetra: The Origin Narrative of Ruru and the Sacred Site

Devanagari script

यज्ञविद्यासु कुशलो व्रतनिष्ठोऽतिथिप्रियः ॥ तत्राश्रमपदं पुण्यं पुण्यद्रुमलतान्वितम् ॥

Transliteration

yajñavidyāsu kuśalo vratanīṣṭho 'tithipriyaḥ | tatrāśramapadaṁ puṇyaṁ puṇyadrumalatānvitam ||

Translation

Er war kundig in den Wissenschaften des Yajña, standhaft in seinen Gelübden und gastfreundlich. Dort besaß er einen heiligen Ashramplatz, geschmückt mit heiligen Bäumen und Ranken.

Word by Word

• yajñavidyāsu: in ritual sciences
• yajñavidyāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña-vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); 'in sacrificial sciences/ritual lore'

• kuśalaḥ: skilled
• kuśalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with (devadatta/dvija) understood

• vratanisṭhaḥ: steadfast in vows
• vratanisṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrata-niṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'steadfast in vows'

• atithipriyaḥ: hospitable
• atithipriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atithi-priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'fond of guests'

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• āśramapadam: hermitage abode
• āśramapadam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama-pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'hermitage-site/abode'

• puṇyam: holy
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with āśramapadam

• puṇyadrumalatānvitam: endowed with sacred trees and creepers
• puṇyadrumalatānvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya + druma + latā + anvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'endowed with holy trees and creepers'

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"receptive; contemplative about dharma and sacred ecology","key_question":"Implicit: what virtues (yajña-vidyā, vrata-niṣṭhā, atithi-sevā) sanctify a place and a life?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Atithi-sevā (honoring guests) and vrata-niṣṭhā are praised as core brāhmaṇa duties supporting yajña-culture.","karmic_consequence":"Observance yields puṇya and sanctifies one’s āśrama; neglect of atithi-dharma is traditionally treated as demerit leading to loss of merit and social-spiritual decline."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"General vrata-niṣṭhā (unspecified vow-discipline)","promised_fruit":"Puṇya-siddhi and tapas-strength; eligibility for higher spiritual attainments (implied by narrative)."}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics + sacred ecology","core_concept":"Dharma is both social (atithi) and ritual (yajña), and it radiates into the environment, making the āśrama a living sacred space.","practical_application":"Practice hospitality, maintain disciplined vows, and protect/plant sacred trees and creepers as part of dharmic living."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ecology","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: hāsya

Geographic Context

Type: āśrama / sacred grove

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 146.6 (āśrama description continues)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A flourishing hermitage: sacred trees and vines, with Devadatta portrayed as a disciplined ritual-knower welcoming guests.","item_prompts":["leafy kuñja with flowering creepers","sacred trees (aśvattha/bilva/nyagrodha suggested)","simple hut (parṇaśālā)","water pot (kamaṇḍalu)","guest receiving gesture (arghya/pādya implied)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dense stylized foliage around a neat parṇaśālā; Devadatta offering arghya, calm devotional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate vegetal motifs with gold highlights; Devadatta central, hospitality gesture, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined forest detailing, soft greens; Devadatta with kamaṇḍalu and arghya vessel, gentle realism.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: romantic forest hermitage with delicate vines; small hut, Devadatta welcoming a traveler, airy composition."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"pastoral, reverent","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, descriptive, composed"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Ethics
• Ecological Narratives
• Āśrama Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents āśrama ideals—ritual competence, vow-discipline, and hospitality—alongside a description of cultivated sacred landscapes, relevant to social and environmental history.

Which geographic location is identified?

A hermitage-site is mentioned without a specific toponym; its narrative placement is within the Rurukṣetra/Hṛṣīkeśa chapter context.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Hospitality toward guests (atithi-priya) and disciplined living (vrata-niṣṭhā) are presented as foundational virtues.