Varaha Purana 196.24: Adhyaya 196, Shloka 24

Description of the City of Dharmarāja

Yama

Devanagari script

रथाङ्गसाह्वैः प्रवरैश्च पद्मैः प्रतप्तजाम्बूनद कर्णिकाभिः ॥ या दृश्यते चैव मनोज्ञरूपा सुवर्णसोपानयुता सुकान्ता

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 196.24

Transliteration

rathāṅgasāhvaiḥ pravaraiś ca padmaiḥ prataptajāmbūnada karṇikābhiḥ | yā dṛśyate caiva manojñarūpā suvarṇasopānayutā sukāntā ||

Translation

Sie erscheint von anmutiger Gestalt, geschmückt mit erlesenen Lotosblumen, rathāṅga genannt, deren Fruchtknoten aus glühendem Jāmbūnada-Gold sind; lieblich ist sie, versehen mit goldenen Stufen.

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Word by Word

• rathāṅga-sāhvaiḥ: called ‘rathāṅga’ (cakra-marked)
• rathāṅga-sāhvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rathāṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with padmaiḥ; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रथाङ्गं नाम यस्य)

• pravaraiḥ: excellent
• pravaraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka/Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with padmaiḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• padmaiḥ: with lotuses
• padmaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• pratapta-jāmbūnada-karṇikābhiḥ: with pericarps of heated Jāmbūnada-gold
• pratapta-jāmbūnada-karṇikābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratapta (प्रातिपदिक) + jāmbūnada (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रतप्तेन जाम्बूनदेन कर्णिकाः)

• yā: which (river)
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• dṛśyate: is seen/appears
• dṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; passive/medio-passive sense ‘is seen’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• manojña-rūpā: of pleasing form
• manojña-rūpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manojña (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; समासः—कर्मधारयः (मनोज्ञं रूपं यस्याः/या)

• suvarṇa-sopāna-yutā: endowed with golden steps
• suvarṇa-sopāna-yutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sopāna (प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णस्य सोपानानि तैः युता)

• su-kāntā: very lovely
• su-kāntā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; su as intensifier

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

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":"curious","key_question":"What aesthetic and architectural splendors adorn this sacred river—its lotuses and ghats/steps?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"aesthetics as dharma-support","core_concept":"Beauty (śrī) in sacred spaces is not mere luxury—it's a dharmic support that draws minds toward purity and reverence.","practical_application":"Maintain ghats and sacred architecture with cleanliness and dignity; cultivate beauty that uplifts rather than distracts."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Aesthetics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śṛṅgāra

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha-ghāṭ / sacred riverfront architecture

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 196.24-25, 196.27 (same river’s qualities)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A river vista thick with large, exquisite lotuses; their golden pericarps gleam like heated Jāmbūnada gold; along the bank, a flight of golden steps descends into the water.","item_prompts":["large lotuses (rathāṅga-named)","golden lotus centers","golden steps/ghat","sunlight glinting","pilgrims/offerings optional"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: bold lotus clusters with stylized gold centers; stepped ghat rendered as geometric gold bands; saturated colors and ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: heavy gold-leaf emphasis on steps and lotus centers; jewel-toned water; symmetrical devotional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: fine detailing of lotus petals; soft gold accents; elegant ghat architecture with restrained opulence.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: delicate lotuses with luminous centers; ghat steps in warm ochre-gold; airy landscape with gentle light."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"wonder-filled, ornate description","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"resonant, slightly elevated"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa
• Sacred Architecture
• Botanical Imagery

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It combines botanical and architectural motifs (lotuses and steps/ghāṭs), reflecting how sacred rivers are imagined as both natural and built heritage.

Which geographic location is identified?

The verse continues the description of Vaivasvatī; it does not specify a modern site but suggests riverbank steps (sopāna) as a key feature.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The portrayal of integrated natural beauty and constructed access implies careful, respectful design around waterways rather than destructive alteration.