Varaha Purana 151.84 — Adhyaya 151, Shloka 84

The Sacred Greatness of Lohārgala

The ‘Iron-Bolt’ Tīrtha

Devanagari script

सिद्धिकामेन मर्त्येन गन्तव्यं नात्र संशयः ॥ समन्तात्पञ्चविंशति योजनानि वरानने ॥

Transliteration

siddhikāmena martyena gantavyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ || samantāt pañcaviṃśati yojanāni varānane ||

Translation

സിദ്ധി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന മർത്ത്യൻ ഇവിടെ നിർബന്ധമായും വരണം—ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല. ഹേ സുന്ദരമുഖിയേ, ഈ പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രം എല്ലാദിക്കുകളിലുമായി ഇരുപത്തിയഞ്ച് യോജന വരെ വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सिद्धि-कामेन: by one desiring success/accomplishment
• सिद्धि-कामेन: Kartr-sahacari (कर्ता-सहचारी/agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सिद्धिं कामयते इति)

• मर्त्येन: by a mortal man
• मर्त्येन: Kartr-sahacari (कर्ता-सहचारी/agent qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• गन्तव्यम्: should be gone to; must go
• गन्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/obligation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय (ought-to-be-done)

• न: no/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• समन्तात्: all around; from every side
• समन्तात्: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; ablatival sense ‘from all sides/around’)

• पञ्च-विशंति: twenty-five
• पञ्च-विशंति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विशंति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; समासः—द्विगु (पञ्च च विशंति च = 25)

• योजनानि: yojanas (a distance measure)
• योजनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• वरानने: O fair-faced one
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर-आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (वरम् आननं यस्याः)

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Varāha urges pilgrimage for siddhi and addresses Bhū-devī as ‘varānane’ (fair-faced), an intimate, affectionate vocative within the dialogue."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"valued, attentive (addressed affectionately)","key_question":"How far does this sacred tract extend, and who should undertake the journey?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"The described kṣetra spanning 25 yojanas in all directions (site-name not given in this verse)","parikrama_context":"Implicit spatial sacrality; extent suggests a mandala-like sacred zone but no explicit parikramā instruction"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"puruṣārtha-sādhana via tīrtha-yātrā","core_concept":"Rightly directed desire (siddhi-kāmatā) is to be pursued through dharmic means—pilgrimage, purity, and reverence for sacred space.","practical_application":"Undertake spiritual goals with commitment: travel, observe disciplines, and respect the boundaries/ethos of sacred zones."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Sacred Geography","Pilgrimage Practice","Measurement/Units (Yojana)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: utsāha (vīra-anuprāṇa)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra-mandala / pilgrimage zone

Cross References

Related Themes: Preceding hydrology and bathing injunctions (151.151.6-7) that prepare the pilgrim for this visit

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred landscape shown as a wide mandala-like region; Varāha’s voice (or presence) instructs a pilgrim to visit for siddhi, with the Earth personified as ‘fair-faced’.","item_prompts":["map-like circular sacred zone","distance markers/yojana symbolism","pilgrim with staff and water-pot","subtle personification of Bhū-devī listening"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Bhū-devī as graceful listener at one side, stylized landscape bands indicating vast extent, ornamental clouds and trees.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Bhū-devī with jeweled crown, gold-leaf aura; a schematic sacred mandala with gold borders and labeled directions.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant figures, soft landscape depth; pilgrim set against expansive terrain, gentle instructional mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: panoramic valley with encircling hills suggesting ‘25 yojanas’, small figures indicating pilgrimage movement."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"encouraging, authoritative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav (solemn resolve)","pace":"medium-fast on the injunction, slower on the measurement","voice_tone":"firm, assuring, with warmth on ‘varānane’"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Ancient Geography
• Cultural Heritage Mapping

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It encodes a measurable sacred landscape (25 yojanas radius/extent), relevant for digital humanities mapping of Purāṇic pilgrimage geographies.

Which geographic location is identified?

A spatial extent is given (twenty-five yojanas), but the central site name is not stated in this verse; nearby lines mention Śarabhaṅga-kuṇḍa.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse frames pilgrimage as a deliberate pursuit of self-cultivation (siddhi), emphasizing intention and commitment rather than compulsion.