Varaha Purana 138.75: Adhyaya 138, Shloka 75

The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird

and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit

Pūrva Bhāga · Ritual Preparation (purity, dress, and salutation)

Devanagari script

शुचिर्भूत्वा यथान्यायं क्षौमवस्त्रविभूषितः॥ प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 138.75

Transliteration

śucir bhūtvā yathānyāyaṃ kṣaumavastravibhūṣitaḥ | praṇamya śirasā devaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

वो नहा के साफ हो गया। सफेद कपड़े पहन लिए। फिर भगवान के आगे सर झुकाया। भगवान जो शंख, चक्र और गदा पकड़े हैं।

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Word by Word

• śuciḥ: pure
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of implied subject)
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)

• bhūtvā: having become
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having become’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Root: √bhū (धातु)

• yathā-nyāyam: according to rule/properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; Accusative singular neuter form functioning as indeclinable
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)

• kṣauma-vastra-vibhūṣitaḥ: adorned with linen garments
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); kta-participle vibhūṣita ‘adorned’; tatpuruṣa: ‘adorned with linen garments’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष sense)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of implied subject)
• Root: kṣauma (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक from vi-√bhūṣ)

• praṇamya: having bowed
• Type: Verb
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having bowed’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)

• śirasā: with (his) head
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)

• devam: the god (Lord)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam: bearing conch, discus, and mace
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘bearer of conch, discus, and mace’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of devam)
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• śucir bhūtvā → śuciḥ bhūtvā (visarga sandhi)
• yathānyāyam → yathā-nyāyam
• kṣaumavastravibhūṣitaḥ → kṣauma-vastra-vibhūṣitaḥ
• śaṅkhacakragadādharam → śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Bhakti rasaSetting: Ritual space (shrine/altar)

Speaker

Narrator

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Upāsanā (devotional practice)

Subjects

Ritual ObservanceEthicsMaterial Culture

Core idea

Outer cleanliness and correct form (ācāra) support inner recollection (smaraṇa) of the Lord’s attributes.

In practice

Begin worship with śauca, wear clean simple garments, and bow with full humility while mentally fixing on Viṣṇu’s emblems.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa
• Vaiṣṇava Iconography
• Ritual Purity

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It is a compact witness to Vaiṣṇava iconography and to codified notions of ritual purity and appropriate attire in Sanskrit narrative-ritual literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It emphasizes propriety (yathānyāya) and respectful conduct as prerequisites for ritual engagement.