Varaha Purana 4.3: Adhyaya 4, Shloka 3
On Nārāyaṇa’s Ten Avatāras and Eightfold Manifestations, and the Account of King Aśvaśirā
इत्येताः कथितास्तस्य मूर्त्तयो भूतधारिणि । दर्शनं प्राप्तुमिच्छूनां सोपानानीव शोभते ॥ ४.३ ॥
ityetāḥ kathitās tasya mūrttayo bhūtadhāriṇi | darśanaṁ prāptum icchūnāṁ sopānānīva śobhate || 4.3 ||
So sind diese mūrti (manifesten Gestalten) von Ihm beschrieben worden, o Erhalter der Wesen; für jene, die sein darśana (Schauen) erlangen wollen, leuchten sie wie die Stufen einer Treppe.
Varāha (default narrative instructor, not explicitly marked in this fragment)
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic didactic strategy: enumerating divine manifestations as a structured means for understanding and contemplative approach, framed in a dialogue style typical of early medieval Sanskrit compendia.
No geographic toponym appears in this verse; it functions as a transitional statement summarizing prior descriptions of forms rather than mapping a sacred site.
The verse conveys a philosophical instruction about gradual approach to understanding—described forms serve as 'steps' toward insight (darśana), emphasizing methodical learning rather than coercive obligation.
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