Varaha Purana 81.20 — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 20

Description of the Divine Mountain Abodes: Meru, Devakūṭa, and Kailāsa

Devanagari script

कुञ्जरे तु पर्वतवरे नित्यं पशुपतिः स्थितः

Transliteration

kuñjare tu parvatavare nityaṁ paśupatiḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

But on Kuñjara, the excellent mountain, Paśupati abides eternally.

Word by Word

• kuñjare: in Kuñjara (mountain/place)
• kuñjare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; place-name/identifier

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय): 'but/indeed'

• parvata: mountain
• parvata: Viśeṣaṇa (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; first member in compound

• vare: in the best mountain
• vare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; parvatavare = 'in the excellent mountain' (कर्मधारय)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (नित्यं): 'always'

• paśupatiḥ: Paśupati (Lord of beings)
• paśupatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśupati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; paśu + pati (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'lord of creatures')

• sthitaḥ: is stationed; stands
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative with paśupatiḥ

Speaker

Varāha

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":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","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":"sectarian harmony within cosmology","core_concept":"Purāṇic geography accommodates multiple divine abodes; the sacred world is plural yet ordered.","practical_application":"Cultivate non-sectarian reverence: recognize different devatā-sthānas as legitimate supports for sādhana."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 81.21 (expands on Mahādeva’s nature and retinue)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene sacred mountain named Kuñjara with Paśupati (Śiva) seated in timeless stillness, indicating eternal residence.","item_prompts":["mountain peak with cave/śikhara","Śiva as Paśupati","trident and damaru","quiet forested slopes","subtle aura of permanence"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Paśupati on Kuñjara peak, bold stylization, tiger-skin motif, attendants minimal, emphasis on stillness.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic Śiva seated with gold halo on a mountain pedestal, rich ornamentation, embossed trident.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant Śiva with soft modeling, mountain rendered with gentle gradients, contemplative mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: Śiva on a crag amid pines and mist, lyrical landscape, minimal retinue, meditative quiet."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"deep, steady, reverent"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Shaivism
• Ancient Geography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows how Purāṇic texts map divine epithets onto mountains, contributing to shared sacred geographies across traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

Kuñjara is named as a ‘parvatavara’; precise modern identification is uncertain without additional context.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

No direct instruction is stated; the verse supports a cultural-heritage view of mountains as enduringly significant places.