Varaha Purana 175.18 — Adhyaya 175, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

सुश्लिष्टाङ्गुलिपादा तु नखास्ताम्रोज्ज्वलाः शुभाः ॥ गम्भीरा दक्षिणावर्त्ता नाभिस्त्रिवलिशोभिता ॥

Transliteration

suśliṣṭāṅgulipādā tu nakhās tāmrôjjvalāḥ śubhāḥ | gambhīrā dakṣiṇāvarttā nābhis trivaliśobhitā ||

Translation

彼女の指と足はよく整い結ばれ、爪は吉祥にして銅色の光を放っていた。臍は深く右旋し、三つの優美なひだに飾られていた。

Word by Word

• सुश्लिष्ट-अङ्गुलि-पादा: having well-joined fingers/toes and feet
• सुश्लिष्ट-अङ्गुलि-पादा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुश्लिष्ट (कृदन्त; √श्लिष्) + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विशेष्यः: पादा)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे “but/indeed”

• नखाः: nails
• नखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (pl)

• ताम्र-उज्ज्वलाः: copper-reddish and shining
• ताम्र-उज्ज्वलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (ताम्राः एव उज्ज्वलाः)

• शुभाः: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नखाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गम्भीरा: deep
• गम्भीरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (नाभिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• दक्षिण-आवर्त्ता: right-turning (clockwise)
• दक्षिण-आवर्त्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणः आवर्तः यस्याः)

• नाभिः: navel
• नाभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रि-वलि-शोभिता: adorned with three folds
• त्रि-वलि-शोभिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वलि (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्/√शोभ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘शोभित’; तत्पुरुषः (त्रिवलिभिः शोभिता)

Speaker

Varāha (default for this fragmentary excerpt)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"curious (inquirer framework)","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"lakṣaṇa/saṃskāra-culture note","core_concept":"Auspicious signs (tāmra-ujjvala nakha, dakṣiṇāvarta nābhi, trivali) function as cultural semiotics—outer marks read as indicators of fortune/character in narrative worlds.","practical_application":"Read such descriptions as narrative cues (not prescriptions): cultivate inner virtues rather than mere external ‘marks’."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Poetics","Social History","Aesthetics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śṛṅgāra

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 175.18 (preceding nāyikā-varṇana)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close, detailed portrayal of hands and feet with coppery shining nails; the deep right-turning navel and three folds are suggested tastefully through posture and drapery.","item_prompts":["well-knit fingers and feet","coppery shining nails","subtle depiction of deep navel (dakṣiṇāvarta)","three graceful abdominal folds (trivali)","fine textiles and modest ornamentation"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Stylized close-up emphasis on hands/feet; rhythmic linework; symbolic rendering of auspicious marks without explicit realism.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold highlights on nails and ornaments; rich silk textures; iconic feminine form with decorative detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Delicate shading for hands/feet; refined realism; tasteful suggestion of trivali through drape and posture.","pahari_prompt":"Miniature-style elegance; emphasis on gesture (mudrā-like hand pose); subtle body contours with lyrical restraint."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ornate, gently sensuous","suggested_raga":"Bageshri","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"soft, measured, aesthetically attentive"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sanskrit Poetics
• Cultural History

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a classical South Asian aesthetic vocabulary (strī-lakṣaṇa) used in Purāṇic narrative to convey idealized bodily markers, useful for cultural-history and literary studies.

Which geographic location is identified?

No explicit location is named in this verse; it is primarily descriptive rather than geographic.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

No direct ethical injunction is stated; the verse functions as narrative characterization through conventional aesthetic markers.