Varaha Purana 13.3 — Adhyaya 13, Shloka 3
The Genealogy of the Pitṛs and the Determination of Śrāddha Times
श्रीवराह उवाच । निमिषेण कृतं कर्म दृष्ट्वा भगवतो मुनिः । आरिराधयिषुर्देवं तमेव प्रययौ वनम् । प्रभासं नाम सोमस्य तीर्थं परमदुर्लभम् ॥ १३.३ ॥
śrīvarāha uvāca | nimiṣeṇa kṛtaṃ karma dṛṣṭvā bhagavato muniḥ | ārirādhayiṣur devaṃ tam eva prayayau vanam | prabhāsaṃ nāma somasya tīrthaṃ paramadurlabham || 13.3 ||
Śrī Varāha dit : Ayant vu l’acte du Bienheureux accompli en un instant, le vénérable sage, désireux d’apaiser et d’honorer ce même dieu, se mit en route vers la forêt, vers le tīrtha de Soma nommé Prabhāsa, d’une extrême rareté.
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Prabhāsa (Soma-tīrtha)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"bhakti-yoga / tīrtha-śraddhā","core_concept":"Perceiving divine immediacy (swift fruition) intensifies devotion and redirects the devotee toward sacred space and worship.","practical_application":"When grace or an extraordinary result is witnessed, respond with disciplined worship and pilgrimage rather than mere amazement."}
Subject Matter: ["Heritage Sites","Geography","Pilgrimage Culture","Narrative Theology (descriptive)"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: tīrtha (sacred ford)
Related Themes: 13.13.4-7 (continuation: deity at the tīrtha, worship, arrival of Mārkaṇḍeya, ensuing inquiry)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A venerable sage, stirred by a miracle accomplished in an instant, departs into a forest path toward the rare Soma-tīrtha named Prabhāsa.","item_prompts":["forest track (vana-mārga)","sage with kamaṇḍalu and staff","distant tīrtha waters with a luminous ‘prabhā’ aura","subtle Soma iconography (crescent/moon motif)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: serene forest greens, a dignified muni in saffron, Prabhāsa waters glowing with moonlike radiance; ornamental foliage borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central sage in relief-like posture, gold-leaf haloed glow over the tīrtha, stylized water patterns, crescent-moon Soma emblem.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft shading on the muni’s face, atmospheric forest depth, gentle luminescence over the tīrtha.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical hillside-forest landscape, small figure of the sage walking, bright reflective water patch labeled by mood as Prabhāsa, minimal Soma crescent in sky."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"wonder-tinged pilgrimage narration","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, reverent, lightly awed"}
FAQs
It exemplifies the Purāṇic tīrtha tradition: narrative movement from witnessing an extraordinary act to undertaking travel toward a named pilgrimage site, preserving cultural memory of sacred geographies such as Prabhāsa.
Prabhāsa (प्रभास), described as a tīrtha of Soma. In historical-geographical scholarship, Prabhāsa is commonly associated with the Prabhāsa region near Somanātha (modern Verāval area, Gujarat), though identifications can vary by text and period.
A philosophical instruction is the emphasis on intentionality and disciplined response: after recognizing an extraordinary event, the sage chooses purposeful action—seeking alignment through worship and a journey to a culturally recognized heritage site (tīrtha).
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