Varaha Purana 152.18: Adhyaya 152, Shloka 18

Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā

Devanagari script

मथुरायां प्रयान्त्यत्र सुप्ते चैव जनार्दने ॥ मथुरामण्डलं प्राप्य श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथाविधि

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 152.18

Transliteration

mathurāyāṃ prayānty atra supte caiva janārdane || mathurāmaṇḍalaṃ prāpya śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi

Translation

ജനാർദനൻ ശയനസ്ഥനായിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും അവർ ഇവിടെ മഥുരയിലേക്കു വരുന്നു. മഥുരാ-മണ്ഡലം പ്രാപിച്ച് വിധിപ്രകാരം ശ്രാദ്ധം ചെയ്തു—

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Word by Word

• mathurāyām: in Mathurā
• mathurāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathurā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• prayānti: they go
• prayānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deictic adverb (deśavācī/देशवाची)

• supte: when (he) is asleep
• supte: Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी/locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: supta (कृदन्त; √svap धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; bhūta-kṛdanta (past active participle/क्त) used in locative absolute sense with janārdane

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (avadhāraṇa/अवधारण)

• janārdane: when Janārdana (Viṣṇu) (is asleep)
• janārdane: Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी/locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• mathurā-maṇḍalam: the Mathurā region
• mathurā-maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathurā + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense 'Mathurā's region'

• prāpya: having reached
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya-kṛdanta; expresses prior action

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite (ancestral offering)
• śrāddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (त्वान्त), avyaya-kṛdanta; expresses prior action

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rite
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vidhi (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: Avyaya; avyayībhāva compound meaning 'according to rule' (manner adverb)

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It links pilgrimage space (Mathurā-maṇḍala) with mortuary/ancestral rites (śrāddha), reflecting how Purāṇic texts integrate social ritual life into sacred topographies.

Which geographic location is identified?

Mathurā and the broader Mathurā-maṇḍala (regional circuit).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To perform prescribed duties carefully (yathāvidhi), especially rites connected with remembrance and responsibility toward ancestors.