Varaha Purana 175.22: Adhyaya 175, Shloka 22

The Sanctity of the Kṛṣṇagaṅgā Pilgrimage-Ford and the Account of the Brahmin Vasu’s Daughter

Uttara Bhāga · Tīrtha–Māhātmya and Courtly/Social Narrative (Devagartteśvara–Śiva; Kānyakubja episode)

Devanagari script

कान्यकुब्जाधिपो राजा क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थितः ॥ तस्य सत्रं सर्वकाले देवगर्त्तेश्वरे शिवे ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 175.22

Transliteration

kānyakubjādhipo rājā kṣatradharme vyavasthitaḥ | tasya satraṃ sarvakālaṃ devagartteśvare śive ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

कन्याकुब्ज का राजा था जो अपने धरम पर चलता था। वो क्षत्रिय था और अपना काम ठीक से करता था। उसने देवगर्त्तेश्वर में शिव जी के लिए एक सत्र लगाया हुआ था जो हमेशा चलता रहता था।

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Word by Word

• कान्यकुब्ज-अधिपः: lord of Kānyakubja
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कान्यकुब्जस्य अधिपः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: कान्यकुब्ज (प्रातिपदिक; स्थाननाम) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)

• राजा: king
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• क्षत्र-धर्मे: in the duty of a kṣatriya
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षत्रस्य धर्मः)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)

• व्यवस्थितः: firmly established/steadfast
• Type: Adjective
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘व्यवस्थित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (राजा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Root: वि + अव + √स्था (धातु)

• तस्य: of him/his
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possession)
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• सत्रम्: sacrificial session/rite
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (contextually object/subject: ‘sacrificial session’)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• सर्व-कालम्: at all times/always
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे कालवाचक द्वितीया (accusative of duration)
• Role: Kala (काल; duration)
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)

• देव-गर्त्त-ईश्वरे: in/at Devagartteśvara (Lord of Devagartta)
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवगर्त्तस्य ईश्वरः)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: देवगर्त्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्थाननाम) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)

• शिवे: in Śiva (temple)/at Śiva
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (देवगर्त्तेश्वरे इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• कान्यकुब्जाधिपो = कान्यकुब्ज-अधिपः
• देवगर्त्तेश्वरे = देव-गर्त्त-ईश्वरे

Speaker and setting

Vira and Adbhuta rasaSetting: Śiva-kṣetra / royal-sacrificial venue

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Path

Rāja Dharma

Subjects

Heritage SitesHistorical PolityRitual Culture

Core idea

Political authority is validated by dharmic alignment—protection and generosity expressed through sustained ritual patronage.

In practice

Interpret Purāṇic polity passages as models: rulers (or leaders) should institutionalize welfare/ritual giving rather than episodic display.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Ancient Geography
• Śaiva Heritage
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Dharmaśāstra Context

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It links kingship (kṣatriya-dharma) with continuous patronage of ritual institutions, reflecting a Purāṇic model of polity and religious endowment.

Which geographic location is identified?

Kānyakubja is named; it is commonly identified with modern Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, India. Devagartteśvara appears as a named Śiva site in the narrative.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse presents an ideal of rulerly duty: steadfastness in kṣatriya-dharma together with sustained support of public ritual and sacred institutions.