Varaha Purana 174.6: Adhyaya 174, Shloka 6

The Sanctifying Power of River Confluences: Release from the Preta-State and the Rite of Śravaṇa Dvādaśī with Vāmana Worship

Devanagari script

प्रयातो विधिवत्साक्षात् सूर्यस्योदयणं प्रति ॥ असिकुण्डादितः कृत्वा दक्षिणां कोटिकां ततः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 174.6

Transliteration

prayāto vidhivatsākṣāt sūryasyodayanaṃ prati || asikuṇḍāditaḥ kṛtvā dakṣiṇāṃ koṭikāṃ tataḥ

Translation

അവൻ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പുറപ്പെട്ടു നേരിട്ട് സൂര്യോദയസ്ഥാനത്തേക്കു പോയി; അസികുണ്ഡത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച് പിന്നെ ദക്ഷിണ കോടികാ (പരിക്രമാമാർഗം) നിർവഹിച്ചു।

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Word by Word

• प्रयातः: having set out / gone forth
• प्रयातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘gone/started’ (used predicatively)

• विधिवत्: according to rule / duly
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); manner-adverb

• साक्षात्: directly / in person
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb); emphasis ‘directly/in person’

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun
• सूर्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive

• उदयनम्: rising-place / sunrise (direction)
• उदयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; goal/object with ‘प्रति’

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Dik/Adhikarana marker (दिक्/अधिकरण-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition); indicates direction ‘towards’

• असिकुण्डात्: from Asi-kuṇḍa (a sacred pond/place)
• असिकुण्डात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि + कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (असिकुण्ड); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative ‘from’

• आदितः: first / from the start
• आदितः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे अव्यय (adverb); ‘from the beginning/first’

• कृत्वा: having done / having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having done’

• दक्षिणाम्: a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object of ‘कृत्वा’

• कोटिकाम्: of a crore (in amount)
• कोटिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘दक्षिणाम्’ (measure/amount)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); sequence ‘then/thereafter’

Speaker

Narrator (default framework: Varāha’s discourse to Pṛthivī)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Ancient Geography
• Pilgrimage Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a pilgrimage itinerary structured by ritual order (vidhivat) and directional movement, a common Purāṇic method for mapping sacred geography onto lived travel practice.

Which geographic location is identified?

Asikuṇḍa is named as a starting tīrtha; its precise modern identification varies in scholarship and typically requires correlation with regional tīrtha catalogues and local tradition.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes disciplined, rule-governed conduct (vidhivat) while undertaking culturally significant travel.