Varaha Purana 151.5: Adhyaya 151, Shloka 5

The Sacred Greatness of Lohārgala

The ‘Iron-Bolt’ Tīrtha

Devanagari script

गद्गदं वचनं श्रुत्वा पृथिव्याः स जनार्दनः ॥ उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं सर्वलोकार्त्तिहा हरिः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 151.5

Transliteration

gadgadaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā pṛthivyāḥ sa janārdanaḥ | uvāca madhuraṁ vākyaṁ sarvalokārttihā hariḥ ||

Translation

Al oír las palabras entrecortadas por la emoción de Pṛthivī, aquel Janārdana—Hari, el que disipa las aflicciones de todos los mundos—pronunció una respuesta suave y dulce.

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Word by Word

• gadgadam: stammering, faltering
• gadgadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• vacanam: speech, words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• pṛthivyāḥ: of the Earth (goddess)
• pṛthivyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• janārdanaḥ: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• janārdanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम (epithet)

• uvāca: said, spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• madhuram: sweet, pleasant
• madhuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vākyam: statement, utterance
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• sarva-loka-ārti-hā: destroyer of the distress of all worlds
• sarva-loka-ārti-hā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + ārti (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु/प्रातिपदिक-हन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (ārti-hā = ‘destroyer of suffering’; sarvaloka- = ‘of all worlds’)

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta / Narratorial voice (introducing Hari’s response)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It functions as a narrative hinge typical of Purāṇic dialogue: the inquirer’s emotional speech prompts the authoritative response, shaping the didactic structure of the chapter.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific location is named in this verse; it introduces the forthcoming instruction that later situates events in a named kṣetra.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse models compassionate, measured speech in response to distress—an interpersonal ethic embedded in the dialogue form.