Varaha Purana 186.2: Adhyaya 186, Shloka 2

Ritual Procedure for Installing Silver and Gold Images, and the Special Status of Śālagrāma

Uttara Bhāga (provisional) · Pratimā-lakṣaṇa (aesthetic and auspicious features)

Devanagari script

चन्द्रपाण्डुरसङ्काशां सुष्लक्ष्णां निर्व्रणां शुभाम् ।। श्रियायुक्तां मनोज्ञां च दीप्यमानां दिशो दश ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 186.2

Transliteration

candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśāṁ suślakṣṇāṁ nirvraṇāṁ śubhām || śriyā-yuktāṁ manojñāṁ ca dīpyamānāṁ diśo daśa ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

चाँद जैसी चमक हो, बिल्कुल साफ और चिकनी। कोई निशानी नहीं, अच्छी लगती है। चमक रही हो और चारों तरफ रोशनी हो।

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Word by Word

• candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśām: resembling the pale whiteness of the moon
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषार्थः (resembling moon-like whiteness); विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)

• suślakṣṇām: very smooth / fine-textured
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ślakṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• nirvraṇām: without wounds / unscarred
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + vraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)

• śubhām: auspicious / beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)

• śriyā: with splendor / with prosperity
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)

• yuktām: endowed (with)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (pratimām-विशेषण)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)

• manojñām: pleasing / delightful
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; मनोज्ञ = मनसः ज्ञ (pleasing to the mind); विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Root: ca (अव्यय)

• dīpyamānām: shining
• Type: Verb
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense) — 'shining'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: dīp (दीप् धातु)

• diśaḥ: directions
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)

• daśa: ten
• Type: Adjective
• Form: (संख्या) विशेषणम्; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनानुगुणम् (agreeing with diśaḥ)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• श्रियायुक्ताम् = śriyā + yuktām
• चन्द्रपाण्डुरसङ्काशाम् is a multi-member tatpuruṣa compound

Speaker and setting

Adbhuta and Shanta rasaSetting: Ritual-visual field (icon in shrine)

Speaker

Varāha (continued instruction)

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Attentive/curious

What she asks

What aesthetic signs (lakṣaṇas) indicate an auspicious, ritually fit image—radiance, smoothness, blemishlessness?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Aesthetics as dharma-support

Subjects

IconographyMaterial CultureAesthetics

Core idea

Beauty and auspiciousness (śubha, śrī) are not mere ornament: they signify harmony and fitness for divine worship.

In practice

Maintain icons and ritual objects free from scratches and stains; preserve polish and cleanliness as part of ongoing seva.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

Continues Varāha’s iconographic instruction: describes the pratimā’s auspicious radiance and flawless surface qualities.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Iconography (Pratimā aesthetics)
• Sanskrit Poetics (descriptive epithets)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It captures aesthetic norms for sacred images—smoothness, blemishlessness, and radiance—useful for comparing textual ideals with surviving art-historical specimens.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named; “ten directions” is a cosmological-aesthetic motif.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To cultivate care and excellence in creating cultural-religious artifacts, emphasizing non-damage (nirvraṇa) and auspicious presentation (śubha).