Varaha Purana 163.23: Adhyaya 163, Shloka 23

The Greatness of Kapila-Varāha: The Efficacy of Vaikuṇṭha Tīrtha and the Installation History of the Varāha Image

Devanagari script

पुण्येयं प्रतिमा दिव्या तैजसी दिव्यरूपिणी ॥ कपिलो नाम विप्रर्षिर्मम भक्तिपरायणः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 163.23

Transliteration

puṇyeyaṁ pratimā divyā taijasī divyarūpiṇī || kapilo nāma viprarṣir mama bhaktiparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

यह मूर्ति पुण्य वाली है। यह डिवाइन है और चमक भी करती है। एक ब्राह्मण रिशि है कपिला नाम का। वो मेरा पक्का भक्त है।

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Word by Word

• puṇyā: holy/meritorious
• puṇyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of pratimā

• iyam: this
• iyam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• pratimā: image/idol
• pratimā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• divyā: divine
• divyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• taijasī: radiant, fiery
• taijasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taijasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• divya-rūpiṇī: having a divine form
• divya-rūpiṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya + rūpiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; (divyaḥ rūpaḥ yasyāḥ) karmadhāraya/description; viśeṣaṇa

• kapilaḥ: Kapila
• kapilaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; proper noun

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta for naming

• vipra-ṛṣiḥ: brahmin sage
• vipra-ṛṣiḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘a brāhmaṇa-sage’

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; possessive genitive

• bhakti-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to devotion; wholly devoted
• bhakti-parāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; (bhaktau parāyaṇaḥ) locative/semantic tatpuruṣa; viśeṣaṇa of kapilaḥ

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Purāṇa Studies
• Material Religion (Images)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a Purāṇic vocabulary for sacred images (divyā, taijasī) and introduces an associated exemplary figure (Kapila), supporting studies of cult, patronage, and transmission.

Which geographic location is identified?

The geography remains the Mathurā setting by continuity; this verse foregrounds the image’s qualities and an affiliated sage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Devotion is portrayed as sustained orientation (parāyaṇa) and as a disciplined relationship to cultural symbols (the pratimā) rather than mere sentiment.