Varaha Purana 213.17: Adhyaya 213, Shloka 17

The Glory of Gokarṇeśvara: Nandin’s Austerities and Śiva’s Boons

Devanagari script

भिन्नेन्द्रनीलविमलैर्धौतैः प्रस्रवणाम्बुभिः ॥ चित्रैः कुसुमसंच्छन्नैः शिलाप्रस्तरविस्तरैः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 213.17

Transliteration

bhinnendranīlavimalair dhautaiḥ prasravaṇāmbubhiḥ || citraiḥ kusumasaṃchannaiḥ śilāprastaravistaraiḥ ||

Translation

झरनों का पानी पत्थरों को धोता था। यह पानी इतना साफ था जैसे कोई नील पत्थर टूटा हो। पत्थर काफी बड़े-बड़े थे और ऊपर फूल बिखरे हुए थे।

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Word by Word

• bhinna-indranīla-vimalaiḥ: with pure (vimal) sapphire-like (indranīla) variegated (bhinna) [ones]
• bhinna-indranīla-vimalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त, √bhid) + indranīla (प्रातिपदिक) + vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणम्—‘भिन्नः इन्द्रनीलः’ इति कर्मधारयः, ‘विमल’ इति विशेषणसमासान्तर्गतं; instrumental plural qualifying the described place/objects

• dhautaiḥ: washed/cleansed
• dhautaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhauta (कृदन्त, √dhāv/√dhau ‘to wash’)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally

• prasravaṇa-ambubhiḥ: with spring-waters
• prasravaṇa-ambubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘प्रस्रवणस्य अम्बु’ (water of springs)

• citraiḥ: with variegated/beautiful
• citraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; विशेषणम्

• kusuma-saṃchannaiḥ: covered with flowers
• kusuma-saṃchannaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃchanna (कृदन्त, √chad ‘to cover’ with saṃ-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपदसमासः—‘कुसुमैः संछन्न’ (covered with flowers)

• śilā-prastara-vistaraiḥ: with stretches of stone slabs
• śilā-prastara-vistaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + prastara (प्रातिपदिक) + vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शिलानां प्रस्तराणां विस्तारैः’ (with expanses of stone-slabs)

Speaker

Varāha (default, speaker not explicit in fragment)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ancient Geography
• Hydrology in Literature
• Ecological Aesthetics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It illustrates how Purāṇic texts encode hydrological and geomorphological motifs (springs, rock terraces) through refined similes, aiding comparative environmental reading.

Which geographic location is identified?

The Mandara-northern mountain setting; the verse adds descriptive detail about springs and rock expanses rather than naming a separate site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The emphasis on clear spring-water and flower-covered stone suggests valuing clean watersheds and intact habitats as part of cultural landscapes.