Varaha Purana 147.35: Adhyaya 147, Shloka 35

The Sacred Merit of Goniṣkramaṇa

the Tīrtha of the Cows’ Emergence/Release

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वं नालपरिणाहं तत्र विष्णुपदं मम ॥ तत्र स्नानं तु कुर्वीत पञ्चरात्रोषितो नरः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 147.35

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṃ nālapariṇāhaṃ tatra viṣṇupadaṃ mama || tatra snānaṃ tu kurvīta pañcarātroṣito naraḥ ||

Translation

Oberhalb, in einer Ausdehnung von einem nāla, befindet sich meine Viṣṇu-Fußspur. Wer dort fünf Nächte verweilt hat, soll an jenem Ort das rituelle Bad vollziehen.

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Word by Word

• ūrdhvam: above/upwards
• ūrdhvam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: upwards/above)

• nālapariṇāham: (by) a reed’s diameter / the measure of a stalk’s girth
• nālapariṇāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāla + pariṇāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (nālasya pariṇāhaḥ = diameter of a reed/stalk)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• viṣṇupadam: Vishnu’s footprint/step
• viṣṇupadam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (viṣṇoḥ padam)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative); एकवचन

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानसूचक (indeed)

• kurvīta: should do
• kurvīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• pañcarātroṣitaḥ: having stayed for five nights
• pañcarātroṣitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcarātra + uṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कृदन्त 'उषित' (क्त: stayed) with तत्पुरुष (pañcarātre uṣitaḥ = stayed for five nights)

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative); एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Ancient Geography
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It ties a physical marker (Viṣṇupada) to a regulated pilgrimage regimen (five-night residence plus snāna), illustrating how Purāṇas standardize practice through time-based vows.

Which geographic location is identified?

A Viṣṇupada marker situated ‘above’ relative to the described kuṇḍa/area, with a nāla-based measurement; the text provides internal spatial cues rather than a modern placename.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Undertake ritual acts with discipline and patience (residence and bathing), implying a structured, non-extractive engagement with sacred waters and sites.