Varaha Purana 7.32: Adhyaya 7, Shloka 32

The Sanctity of Gayā: Raibhya’s Encounter and Hymn to Viṣṇu

Gadādhara

Devanagari script

सुरासुरैरर्च्चितपादपङ्कजं केयूरहाराङ्गद मौलिधारिणम् । अब्दौ शयानं च रथाङ्गपाणिनं गदाधरं प्रणमति यः सुखं वसेत् ॥ ७.३२ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 7.32

Transliteration

surāsurair arcchitapādapaṅkajaṁ keyūrahārāṅgada-maulidhāriṇam | abdau śayānaṁ ca rathāṅgapāṇinaṁ gadādharaṁ praṇamati yaḥ sukhaṁ vaset || 7.32 ||

Translation

Wer sich ehrfürchtig vor dem keulentragenden Herrn verneigt — dessen Lotosfüße von Göttern und Asuras verehrt werden; der Armreife, Halsketten, Armbänder und Diadem trägt; der auf dem Ozean ruht; und dessen Hand den Diskus hält — wird in Glückseligkeit wohnen.

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Word by Word

• sura-asuraiḥ: by gods and demons
• sura-asuraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; द्वन्द्वः: 'by gods and demons'

• arcchita-pāda-paṅkajam: whose lotus-feet are worshipped
• arcchita-pāda-paṅkajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcchita/arcita (कृदन्त; √arc/अर्च्-पूजायाम्, PPP) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'whose lotus-feet are worshipped' (pāda-paṅkaja = karmadhāraya within)

• keyūra-hāra-aṅgada-mauli-dhāriṇam: wearing armlets, garlands, bracelets, and a crown
• keyūra-hāra-aṅgada-mauli-dhāriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: keyūra (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक) + mauli (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः listing ornaments + dhārin 'wearer' as final member (tatpurusha-like dependency)

• abdau: in the ocean
• abdau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abdi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• śayānam: lying (reclining)
• śayānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śī (धातु; शी-शयने) + śayāna (कृदन्त; present active participle)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• ratha-aṅga-pāṇinam: having the discus in his hand
• ratha-aṅga-pāṇinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'having the discus (rathāṅga) in hand'

• gadā-dharam: the mace-bearer
• gadā-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• praṇamati: bows down
• praṇamati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु; नम्-प्रणामे)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• sukham: happily
• sukham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used adverbially

• vaset: may dwell
• vaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु; वस्-निवासे)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework; explicit speaker not present in excerpt)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic literary mode: concise stuti (praise) linked to a practical discipline (praṇāma/bowing). Such verses document the standardization of Vaiṣṇava iconographic markers (cakra, gadā, ocean-reclining posture) and the ethical-psychological framing of devotion as a source of sukha (well-being).

Which geographic location is identified?

No terrestrial pilgrimage site is named in this verse. The setting is cosmographic: the deity is described as reclining 'in/on the ocean' (abdau śayānam), a mythic-ocean motif rather than a specific mapped location.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse promotes a disciplined posture of reverence (praṇāma) toward an idealized, universally venerated figure, presenting respectful attention and humility as a means to cultivate sukha (stable well-being) rather than as coercive obligation.