Varaha Purana 190.63 — Adhyaya 190, Shloka 63

Determinative Exposition on Śrāddha and the Pitṛyajña

Ancestral Offering

Devanagari script

शरण्यं शरणं देवं ब्रह्माणं पद्मसम्भवम् ।। मेरुशृङ्गे सुखासीनं ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम्

Transliteration

śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ devaṁ brahmāṇaṁ padmasaṁbhavam || meruśṛṅge sukhāsīnaṁ brahmarṣigaṇasevitam

Translation

Buscando refugio en la deidad que otorga refugio—Brahmā, el nacido del loto—lo contemplaron sentado con serenidad en la cumbre del Meru, servido por huestes de brahmarṣis.

Word by Word

• शरण्यम्: worthy of refuge / protector
• शरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पद्म-सम्भवम्: born from the lotus
• पद्म-सम्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'पद्मात् सम्भवः'

• मेरु-शृङ्गे: on Meru’s peak
• मेरु-शृङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मेरोः शृङ्गे'

• सुख-आसीनम्: seated comfortably
• सुख-आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √आस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय: 'सुखेन आसीनः' (seated comfortably)

• ब्रह्मर्षि-गण-सेवितम्: served by the host of Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्मर्षि-गण-सेवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √सेव्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: 'ब्रह्मर्षिगणेन सेवितम्' (served by the group of Brahmarṣis)

Speaker

Narrator (not explicit; default dialogue-frame: Varāha–Pṛthivī context)

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":"None","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":"śaraṇāgati (refuge)","core_concept":"Turning to the refuge-giving principle (Brahmā here as cosmic lawgiver) is the proper response when dharma/ritual order is disturbed.","practical_application":"In uncertainty, seek guidance from śāstra and realized teachers (brahmarṣis), approaching with humility and readiness to correct one’s practice."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Sacred Geography","Ritual Lineage"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain / cosmic axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 190 (approach to Brahmā on Meru)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brahmā, lotus-born and refuge-giving, sits comfortably on Meru’s peak, attended by hosts of brahmarṣis, as seekers approach for shelter and counsel.","item_prompts":["Mount Meru peak with radiant summit","Brahmā seated in ease (sukhāsīna)","lotus-birth motif (lotus pedestal)","brahmarṣi groups with matted hair and rosaries","aura of cosmic stillness and authority"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Meru as stylized tiered mountain, Brahmā central with serene face, brahmarṣis in rhythmic rows, earthy reds/greens with luminous highlights.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: Brahmā on lotus with heavy gold-leaf halo and ornaments, Meru rendered as jeweled mound, brahmarṣis with subtle gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: intricate detailing of Brahmā’s throne/lotus, soft atmospheric Meru, finely drawn sages, calm devotional grandeur.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: dramatic Himalayan-like peak for Meru, Brahmā on a lotus dais, clustered sages, crisp lines and cool palette conveying altitude and sanctity."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic and contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"reverent, expansive"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Sanskrit Narrative
• Sacred Mountains

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a common Purāṇic narrative convention: approaching Brahmā at Meru as a cosmological and textual authority, framing subsequent doctrinal explanations.

Which geographic location is identified?

Meru (Mount Meru), a mythic-cosmological axis mountain; it functions as a sacred-geographic marker rather than a single verifiable modern location.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse models seeking counsel from an authoritative source in times of distress—an epistemic and procedural ethic rather than a prescriptive dogma.