Varaha Purana 149.22 — Adhyaya 149, Shloka 22

The Sacred Geography and Merit of Dvārakā

Devanagari script

द्वारकायां महाभागे वैष्णवानां सुखावहे ॥ अस्ति पञ्चसरो नाम गुह्यं क्षेत्रं परं मम ॥

Transliteration

dvārakāyāṃ mahābhāge vaiṣṇavānāṃ sukhāvahe || asti pañcasaro nāma guhyaṃ kṣetraṃ paraṃ mama ||

Translation

In Dvārakā, o Hochbegnadete, die den Vaiṣṇavas Wohlergehen schenkt, gibt es eine geheime, höchst heilige Pilgerstätte von mir, genannt Pañcasaras.

Word by Word

• द्वारकायाम्: in Dvārakā
• द्वारकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• महाभागे: O greatly fortunate (one/place)
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् + भागः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; नगर-विशेषणवत् संबोधन

• वैष्णवानाम्: of the Vaiṣṇavas
• वैष्णवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• सुखावहे: bringing happiness
• सुखावहे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखावह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव (सुखम् + आवह = bringing happiness); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण to (द्वारका/महाभागे)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पञ्चसरः: (a place called) Pañcasara
• पञ्चसरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (five + lake/pond); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: named/called
• नाम: Nāmadheya-nipāta (नामधेयनिपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-निपात (particle indicating name)

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to क्षेत्रम्

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred place/field
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to क्षेत्रम्

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"compassion","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Addresses Bhū-devī as ‘mahābhāge’ and reveals a ‘guhya kṣetra’ belonging to him, for Vaiṣṇava welfare."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"honored, receptive (being addressed as fortunate)","key_question":"Which specific sacred site in Dvārakā is supremely dear to Varāha and beneficial to Vaiṣṇavas?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Pañcasaras (in Dvārakā, not Mathurā)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"Dvārakā is Kṛṣṇa’s city; the verse situates a Vaiṣṇava tīrtha within Kṛṣṇa’s western sacred geography."}

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":"tīrtha-bhakti","core_concept":"Sacred geography is a mode of divine accessibility; ‘hidden’ sites signify inner devotion and guarded sanctity.","practical_application":"Approach tīrthas with humility and discretion; prioritize Vaiṣṇava conduct (sevā, śravaṇa, smaraṇa) over mere tourism."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Sacred waters (tīrtha/kṣetra)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra/tīrtha (sacred site)

Cross References

Related Themes: 149.25.0 (bathing procedure at seashore); 149.23.0 (transition to sites)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A panoramic reveal of Dvārakā with a highlighted sacred water-site named Pañcasaras, presented as Varāha’s secret kṣetra, while Varāha narrates to Bhū-devī.","item_prompts":["coastal cityscape of Dvārakā","temple spires","a sacred pond/lake labeled Pañcasaras","Vaiṣṇava pilgrims","Varāha and Bhū-devī in a narrative inset"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with stylized sea and city; Pañcasaras as lotus-filled tank; inset of Varāha teaching Bhū-devī; rich reds/greens and ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore with central Varāha-Bhū-devī duo; gold-leaf temple arch; below, a jewel-toned Dvārakā vignette with the Pañcasaras tank.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting emphasizing architectural detail of Dvārakā; soft sea gradient; pilgrims near a serene tank; refined ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style with lyrical coastline; compact city blocks; bright tank with lotuses; small figures of pilgrims; narrative inset of the divine dialogue."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"revelatory, auspicious","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"bright, devotional, slightly hushed on ‘guhyaṃ’"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ancient Geography
• Heritage Conservation

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It contributes to the Purāṇic mapping of Dvārakā as a significant cultural-heritage landscape, preserving names of tīrthas/kṣetras used in pilgrimage and regional memory.

Which geographic location is identified?

Dvārakā (commonly identified with the historic-sacred coastal region in present-day Gujarat, India). The verse also names the site “Pañcasara,” presented as a specific sacred locality within/associated with Dvārakā.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The emphasis is on cultural practice rather than a direct moral injunction: valuing and preserving sacred geography as a locus of communal well-being and remembrance.