Varaha Purana 175.17 — Adhyaya 175, Shloka 17

The Sanctity of the Kṛṣṇagaṅgā Pilgrimage-Ford and the Account of the Brahmin Vasu’s Daughter

Devanagari script

सुरूपा सुकुमाराङ्गी नीलकुञ्चितमूर्द्धजा॥ कदलीकाण्डसङ्काशे तस्या ऊरू सुमांसले॥

Transliteration

surūpā sukumārāṅgī nīlakuñcitamūrddhajā || kadalīkāṇḍasaṅkāśe tasyā ūrū sumāṃsale

Translation

She was fair in form, delicate of frame, with dark, curled hair. Her thighs were full and well-shaped, resembling the trunk of the plantain tree.

Word by Word

• su-rūpā: beautiful
• su-rūpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुन्दरं रूपं यस्याः/या; adjective

• su-kumāra-aṅgī: having very delicate limbs
• su-kumāra-aṅgī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुकुमाराणि अङ्गानि यस्याः; adjective

• nīla-kuñcita-mūrdhajā: with dark, curly hair
• nīla-kuñcita-mūrdhajā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + kuñcita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—नीलाः कुञ्चिताः मूर्धजाः यस्याः; adjective

• kadalī-kāṇḍa-saṅkāśe: like banana-stalks
• kadalī-kāṇḍa-saṅkāśe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kadalī (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचन; समासः—कदलीकाण्डवत् सङ्काशः (उपमान-तत्पुरुष); सप्तमी-द्विवचन, विशेषणं (ऊरू)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive: ‘of her’

• ūrū: (her) two thighs
• ūrū: Karta (कर्ता/वर्ण्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; here nominative dual as described body-part

• su-māṃsale: very well-fleshed
• su-māṃsale: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + māṃsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचन; adjective agreeing with ūrū (dual): ‘very fleshy/well-rounded’

Speaker

Varāha (default narrative voice) to Pṛthivī (inquirer framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"curious (inquirer framework)","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

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":"aesthetic-ethical reflection","core_concept":"Rūpa-varṇana highlights embodied beauty as transient and narratively consequential, inviting restraint and discernment (viveka) in response to form.","practical_application":"Appreciate beauty without attachment; maintain dhārmic conduct when encountering आकर्षण (attraction)."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Literary Aesthetics","Social History","Narrative Literature"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śṛṅgāra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 175.19 (continued bodily description/alaṅkāra)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poised young woman with dark curled hair and a delicate body is depicted; the plantain-trunk simile is visualized through nearby banana plants or a subtle motif.","item_prompts":["dark curled hair (nīla-kuñcita)","slender limbs (sukumāra-aṅgī)","banana plant/trunk motif","graceful stance","simple ornaments appropriate to narrative setting"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Elegant feminine figure with stylized curls; banana plant backdrop; flat color fields and ornate jewelry patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-leaf jewelry and textile borders; banana motif in background; frontal iconic pose with rich reds/greens.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic curls and soft modeling; banana grove rendered delicately; refined ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Lyrical figure in garden setting; banana plant clearly drawn; gentle pastel palette and expressive eyes."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"lyrical, descriptive","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"smooth, slightly ornamented, poetic"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sanskrit Poetics (Varṇana)
• Cultural Anthropology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies a common Sanskrit narrative device (varṇana) using culturally legible similes (e.g., plantain stalk) to convey ideals of form and vitality in classical literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; it is a descriptive passage within the ongoing narrative.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

No direct ethical instruction is stated; the verse functions as literary characterization that supports subsequent narrative developments.