Varaha Purana 152.54: Adhyaya 152, Shloka 54

Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā

Devanagari script

ध्रुवेण यत्र सन्तप्तं स्वेच्छया परमं तपः ॥ तत्र वै स्नानमात्रेण ध्रुवलोके महीयते ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 152.54

Transliteration

dhruveṇa yatra santaptaṃ svecchayā paramaṃ tapaḥ || tatra vai snānamātreṇa dhruvaloke mahīyate ||

Translation

ध्रुव ने वहाँ अपनी मर्ज़ी से बहुत बड़ा तप किया था। वहाँ सिर्फ नहाने से भी इंसान ध्रुव के लोक में जाता है।

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Word by Word

• ध्रुवेण: by Dhruva
• ध्रुवेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/instrumental), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• सन्तप्तम्: was performed/undertaken (austerity was heated/ardently done)
• सन्तप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'तपः' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• स्वेच्छया: by (his) own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—स्वस्य इच्छा (by his own will)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'तपः' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/nominative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• स्नानमात्रेण: by mere bathing alone
• स्नानमात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—स्नानस्य मात्रम् (by mere bathing)

• ध्रुवलोके: in Dhruva-loka
• ध्रुवलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन; समासः—ध्रुवस्य लोकः (in Dhruva’s world)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: is honored/glorified)

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Sacred Geography
• Ascetic Traditions

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It ties a pilgrimage site to the Dhruva narrative, demonstrating how Purāṇas map exemplary ascetic figures onto specific locales to sacralize landscapes.

Which geographic location is identified?

The verse identifies the place indirectly as the site of Dhruva’s austerity; the surrounding chapter context frames it as a tīrtha associated with Dhruva.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It elevates personal resolve (svecchā) and disciplined practice (tapas) as culturally authoritative virtues, with bathing presented as participation in that legacy.