Varaha Purana 69.16: Adhyaya 69, Shloka 16

Agastya’s Vision of Varuṇa as Nārāyaṇa in Ilāvṛta

Devanagari script

सुहर्म्यकक्ष्यायतनं विशालं रथ्यापथं शुद्धजनानुकीर्णम् । नीत्युत्तमैः सेवितमात्मविद्भिर् नृभिः पुराणैर्नयमार्गसंस्थैः ॥ ६९.१६ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 69.16

Transliteration

suharmy kakṣyāyatanaṃ viśālaṃ rathyāpathaṃ śuddhajanānukīrṇam | nītyuttamaiḥ sevitam ātmavidbhir nṛbhiḥ purāṇair nayamārgasaṃsthaiḥ || 69.16 ||

Translation

वहाँ बड़े-बड़े महल थे और घर भी काफी बड़े थे। सड़क में अच्छे लोग भरे थे। जो लोग अपने आप को जानते थे और अच्छे काम करते थे, वो वहाँ रहते थे। यह लोग बहुत पुराने थे और सही रास्ते पर चलते थे।

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Word by Word

• su-harmya-kakṣyā-āyatanam: a splendid mansion-abode (with inner chambers)
• su-harmya-kakṣyā-āyatanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + harmya (प्रातिपदिक) + kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक) + āyatana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; multi-member Tatpuruṣa describing a 'dwelling/abode with fine mansions and inner apartments'

• viśālam: vast
• viśālam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative Singular (agreeing with āyatanam)

• rathyā-patham: the street-road/avenue
• rathyā-patham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rathyā (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter Accusative Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'street-road/avenue'

• śuddha-jana-anukīrṇam: filled with pure people
• śuddha-jana-anukīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + anukīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter Accusative Singular; Tatpuruṣa; anukīrṇa = PPP (क्त) from anu+√kṝ/√kīr 'to scatter, strew' meaning 'filled with'

• nīti-uttamaiḥ: by the best (men) in policy/ethics
• nīti-uttamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīti (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural; Tatpuruṣa: 'excellent in polity/ethics'

• sevitam: frequented/served
• sevitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sev (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter Accusative Singular; 'served/inhabited'

• ātma-vidbhiḥ: by self-knowers
• ātma-vidbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक from √vid)
• Form: Masculine Instrumental Plural; Tatpuruṣa: 'knowers of the Self'

• nṛbhiḥ: by men
• nṛbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Instrumental Plural

• purāṇaiḥ: ancient/aged
• purāṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Instrumental Plural (qualifying nṛbhiḥ)

• naya-mārga-saṃsthaiḥ: established in the path of proper conduct
• naya-mārga-saṃsthaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naya (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Instrumental Plural; Tatpuruṣa: 'standing/established in the path of right conduct'

Speaker

Varāha (default for the Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Sanskrit
• Ancient Urban Description
• Dharma and Nīti

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The verse preserves a Purāṇic-style civic ideal: an urban space characterized by orderly infrastructure (streets/roads), prominent architecture (mansions), and a population associated with ethical discipline and learned self-knowledge—useful for studying classical Indian literary representations of cities and governance.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name appears in this single verse; it functions as a descriptive passage within a larger chapter. Identification of the location requires adjacent verses that name the kṣetra/tīrtha or city.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The passage elevates nīti (ethical/political conduct) and naya-mārga (the path of proper governance and right guidance) as defining virtues of an exemplary community, associating social well-being with disciplined conduct and reflective knowledge (ātma-vid).