Varaha Purana 148.73 — Adhyaya 148, Shloka 73

The Greatness of Stutasvāmi: Varāha’s Disclosure of the Bhūtagiri Sacred Landscape and Its Ethical Discipline

Devanagari script

एतानि भूमे गुह्यानि तत्र भूतगिरौ मम ॥ श्रद्धधानेन मर्त्येन श्रोतव्यं नात्र संशयः ॥

Transliteration

etāni bhūme guhyāni tatra bhūtagirau mama || śraddadhānena martyena śrotavyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ ||

Translation

ໂອ ແຜ່ນດິນ, ເລື່ອງເຫຼົ່ານີ້ເປັນຄວາມລັບລຶກຊຶ້ງຢູ່ທີ່ນັ້ນ ທີ່ພູຕະຄິຣິຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ. ມະນຸດຜູ້ມີສັດທາພຶງຟັງ—ບໍ່ມີຂໍ້ສົງໄສໃດໆ।

Word by Word

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural)

• bhūme: O Earth (goddess)
• bhūme: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• guhyāni: secret
• guhyāni: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘etāni’)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश-अधिकरण-बोधक (locative adverb)

• bhūta-girau: on/at Bhūtagiri mountain
• bhūta-girau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: भूतानां गिरिः / भूत-नामकः गिरिः; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mama: my/of me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śraddadhānena: by a faithful (person)
• śraddadhānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrad-dhā (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘martyena’): ‘श्रद्धां दधत्’ (having faith)

• martyena: by a mortal
• martyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śrotavyam: should be listened to
• śrotavyam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive—obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘श्रोतुम् अर्हम्’ (to be heard/should be listened to)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश-अधिकरण-बोधक (here/in this matter)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Varāha addresses Bhūmi directly, emphasizing secrecy (guhya) and the requirement of faith for hearing teachings associated with his Bhūtagiri."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"Who is qualified to hear these esoteric matters connected with Bhūtagiri, and what is the proper disposition for receiving them?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Bhūtagiri (Varāha’s site, not specified as Mathurā here)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"Esoteric tīrtha/deity matters should be heard (śrotavya) only by a श्रद्धधान (faithful) listener; faith is the qualification for transmission.","karmic_consequence":"With faith, śravaṇa becomes fruitful and doubtless; without faith, the teaching is effectively inaccessible/sterile (implied adhikāra-bheda)."}

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":"adhikāra (spiritual qualification)","core_concept":"Śraddhā is the gateway to guhya-vidyā; sacred knowledge is not merely informational but transformational, requiring receptivity.","practical_application":"Before approaching tīrtha-kathā or esoteric narratives, cultivate śraddhā through purity of intent, respectful listening, and disciplined attention."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: holy hill/tīrtha-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 148.79.0 (devotee-valued inquiry); Varāha Purāṇa 148.82.0 (māhātmya framed as dharma-supporting)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha points toward Bhūtagiri while cautioning that the teachings there are guhya and must be heard by the faithful; Bhūmi receives the instruction with solemn attention.","item_prompts":["hill labeled ‘Bhūtagiri’","gesture of caution/secrecy","devotee figure with folded hands (śraddhā)","a threshold/door motif symbolizing restricted access","quiet forested sacred setting"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: solemn palette; Varāha’s instructive mudrā; Bhūdevi attentive; stylized hill and sacred grove; emphasis on ‘guhya’ mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold haloed Varāha; symbolic ‘sealed manuscript’ motif; Bhūdevi in reverence; ornate frame suggesting sanctity and restriction.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined didactic scene; subtle ‘doorkeeper/threshold’ symbolism; calm devotional expressions.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: hillside shrine in mist; intimate teacher-disciple composition; a lone faithful listener in foreground; quiet atmosphere."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn-instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"grave, authoritative, protective of secrecy"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Oral Tradition Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects norms of controlled transmission in Sanskrit traditions, where certain site-related narratives are framed as guhyāni and suited to attentive audiences.

Which geographic location is identified?

Bhūtagiri is explicitly named again as the locus of the described ‘guhya’ material.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It stresses śraddhā (trust/faith) and disciplined listening as ethical prerequisites for receiving knowledge.