Varaha Purana 147.28 — Adhyaya 147, Shloka 28
The Sacred Merit of Goniṣkramaṇa
the Tīrtha of the Cows’ Emergence/Release
तच्च गोनिष्क्रमं नाम तीर्थं परमपावनम् ॥ तत्र स्नानं तु कुर्वीत एकरात्रोषितो नरः ॥
tac ca go-niṣkramaṃ nāma tīrthaṃ paramapāvanam | tatra snānaṃ tu kurvīta ekarātroṣito naraḥ ||
Et c’est le lieu de pèlerinage nommé Go-niṣkrama, souverainement purificateur. Un homme, après y avoir séjourné une nuit, doit s’y baigner.
Unspecified (defaults to primary dialogue frame: Varāha as narrator/instructor)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"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":true,"specific_site":"Go-niṣkrama-tīrtha","parikrama_context":"Implied as a stop within tīrtha-yātrā/parikramā circuits where one stays overnight and bathes for merit.","krishna_connection":"Goloka/Vaiṣṇava soteriology foreshadows later Kṛṣṇa-centric Mathurā-Vraja theology, though Kṛṣṇa is not named here."}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"At Go-niṣkrama-tīrtha, one should stay one night and perform snāna for purification.","karmic_consequence":"Observance yields supreme purification (parama-pāvana); neglect forfeits the stated tīrtha-śuddhi."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Go-niṣkrama-tīrtha-vāsa-snāna (one-night observance)","tithi_month":"Not specified (site-based; to be done upon arrival)","promised_fruit":"Supreme purification through tīrtha-snāna with one-night residence."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-yoga / tīrtha-śraddhā","core_concept":"Purification arises from disciplined observance (niyama) joined to sacred place (deśa) and act (snāna).","practical_application":"When visiting a tīrtha, adopt minimal vows (overnight restraint) and complete the prescribed snāna rather than treating pilgrimage as mere travel."}
Subject Matter: ["Geography (tīrtha identification)","Cultural heritage sites","Ritual practice (snāna and overnight stay)"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: śraddhā-bhakti
Type: tīrtha (bathing ford/sacred spot)
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 147.32–35 (phala: Goloka/Vaiṣṇava-loka; extended stay and yajña-phala); Varāha Purāṇa 147.33 (Mūlavaṭa and pañca-dhārā hydrology)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim arrives at the tīrtha named Go-niṣkrama, rests for the night near the water, and performs dawn bathing in a serene sacred landscape.","item_prompts":["tīrtha waterbank/ghāṭa","simple pilgrim with water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)","night camp (small lamp)","dawn snāna gesture (añjali)","trees and shrine-marker naming the tīrtha"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: calm riverbank tīrtha with stylized foliage; pilgrim in simple attire performing snāna at dawn; warm earthy palette, clear outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: small shrine plaque ‘Go-niṣkrama’; gold accents on haloed tīrtha-deity emblem; pilgrim bathing with ornate border motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft gradients; tranquil dawn light over ghāṭa; pilgrim with kamaṇḍalu and wet cloth, minimal ornament.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical landscape with rolling banks and trees; tiny pilgrim figure near water; cool dawn hues and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Instructional, purificatory","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, clear, niyama-focused"}
FAQs
It is a direct tīrtha-naming formula typical of Purāṇic pilgrimage catalogues, valuable for mapping sacred geographies and ritual prescriptions.
The verse identifies the site by its ancient name: Go-niṣkrama tīrtha; a modern identification is not provided in this excerpt.
It promotes disciplined ritual observance (staying and bathing) as a culturally framed method for self-regulation and purification.
Ask anything about this verse
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