Varaha Purana 183.2: Adhyaya 183, Shloka 2

Installation of a Clay Icon (Mṛnmayārcā) and the Ritual Protocol of Worship

Devanagari script

अर्च्चां च मृण्मयीं कृत्वा अस्पुटां चाप्यखण्डिताम् ॥ नाधिकां वामनां चापि न वक्रां कारयेद्बुधः ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 183.2

Transliteration

arccāṃ ca mṛṇmayīṃ kṛtvā asphuṭāṃ cāpy akhaṇḍitām || nādhikāṃ vāmanāṃ cāpi na vakrāṃ kārayed budhaḥ ||

Translation

Habiendo hecho una imagen de culto de arcilla—nítida y no quebrada—el prudente no debe mandarla hacer excesivamente grande, ni enana, ni torcida.

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Word by Word

• अर्चाम्: worship-image/arcā (icon)
• अर्चाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मृण्मयीम्: made of clay
• मृण्मयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृण्मयी (प्रातिपदिक; मृद्+मय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having made/done’

• अस्पुटाम्: not indistinct; well-defined (lit. not unclear)
• अस्पुटाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अखण्डिताम्: unbroken; not damaged
• अखण्डिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अधिकाम्: too large/excessive
• अधिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण

• वामनाम्: dwarfish/too short
• वामनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• वक्राम्: crooked; bent
• वक्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘should cause to be made’)

• बुधः: a wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Varāha (default, instructional voice)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a prescriptive strand of Purāṇic ritual literature that standardizes the physical qualities of icons (pratimā/arccā), aligning devotional practice with material and aesthetic norms.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it is a general ritual-technical instruction.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To approach ritual craftsmanship with discernment—avoiding negligence or distortion—so that the object of worship is made with care and integrity.