Varaha Purana 152.7: Adhyaya 152, Shloka 7
Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā
Uttara Bhāga (traditional classification; chapter-level repository entry) · Mathurā-tīrtha Praśaṃsā (Inquiry: The Supreme Tīrtha)
तीर्थं तद्वद कल्याणं तीर्थानामुत्तमोत्तमम् ॥ यदस्ति दुर्लभं तीर्थं तत्त्वं कथय मे प्रभो ॥
tīrthaṃ tad vada kalyāṇaṃ tīrthānām uttamottamam || yad asti durlabhaṃ tīrthaṃ tattvaṃ kathaya me prabho ||
tIrthaM tadvada kalyANaM tIrthAnAmuttamottamam || yadasti durlabhaM tIrthaM tattvaM kathaya me prabho
मुझे उस तीर्थ के बारे में बताओ जो सबसे अच्छा है। जो तीर्थ मिलना मुश्किल है, उसका सच मुझे समझाओ प्रभु।
Sandhi Notes
- tad vada (तद्वद) resolved as tat + vada
- tīrthānām uttamottamam (तीर्थानामुत्तमोत्तमम्) resolved as tīrthānām + uttamottamam
- yad asti (यदस्ति) resolved as yat + asti
Pṛthivī (Dharaṇī)
Curious, reverent, seeking rare sacred knowledge (tīrtha-tattva)
Which tīrtha is the most auspicious and rare, and what is its true principle (tattva)?
Tīrtha is not only a place but has a ‘tattva’ (inner truth/efficacy) to be understood through authoritative instruction
Approach sacred geography with reverent questioning and sustained listening; seek the principle behind practice, not mere travel
Implicit setup for a forthcoming Mathurā-māhātmya that later aligns with Kṛṣṇa’s līlā-bhūmi, but not stated here
Varāha Purāṇa 152.8–12 (answer identifying Mathurā as supreme)
FAQs
It illustrates how tīrtha-māhātmya passages combine geography with philosophical vocabulary (tattva), creating a layered discourse of place and meaning.
No specific tīrtha is named yet; the verse functions as a formal request that sets up the identification of Mathurā in the response.
An ethic of inquiry: the speaker requests not only a name but the ‘tattva’—the underlying rationale—encouraging thoughtful engagement with heritage traditions.
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