Varaha Purana 166.15 — Adhyaya 166, Shloka 15

The Greatness of the Sacred Pond Called Asikuṇḍa

Devanagari script

सुपापिना विमतिना कृतस्त्रासः सुदारुणः ॥ तं नियच्छस्व पापिष्ठं यदि पश्यसि नः सुखम् ।

Transliteration

supāpinā vimatina kṛtastrāsaḥ sudāruṇaḥ || taṁ niyacchasva pāpiṣṭhaṁ yadi paśyasi naḥ sukham |

Translation

एका महापापी, विपरीत बुद्धीच्या माणसाने अतिभयंकर त्रास निर्माण केला आहे. आमचे सुख पाहायचे असेल तर त्या परम पाप्याला आवर घाला.

Word by Word

• su-pāpinā: by a very sinful (one)
• su-pāpinā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद): su-pāpin 'very sinful'; Masculine/Neuter, Tṛtīyā, Eka-vacana

• vi-matinā: by a misguided-minded (one)
• vi-matinā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + matin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: vi-mati 'perverse-minded'; Masculine/Neuter, Tṛtīyā, Eka-vacana

• kṛta-strāsaḥ: (he) who has caused fear
• kṛta-strāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ + क्त) + strāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense): kṛtaḥ strāsaḥ yena / kṛta-strāsaḥ 'one who has caused terror'; Masculine, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• su-dāruṇaḥ: very terrible
• su-dāruṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: su-dāruṇa 'very dreadful'; Masculine, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• niyacchasva: restrain/stop (him)
• niyacchasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + yam (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana; ātmanepada; उपसर्ग: नि-

• pāpiṣṭham: most sinful
• pāpiṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Superlative (इष्ठ) from pāpin; Masculine, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conditional particle

• paśyasi: you see (i.e., wish)
• paśyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• naḥ: for us / our
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Ṣaṣṭhī (genitive) Bahu-vacana (or enclitic 'for us'); here = 'for us/our'

• sukham: happiness/welfare
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

Speaker

Tīrthāni

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":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"threatened-by-proxy (her tīrthas endangered), concerned","key_question":"Will the Lord restrain the grievous sinner who terrorizes the tīrthas, ensuring their welfare?"}

Mathura Mandala

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

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"rajaniti","instruction_summary":"A wicked aggressor who spreads terror must be restrained for the protection of public/sacred welfare.","karmic_consequence":"Restraint of adharmic violence preserves tīrtha-puṇya and social order; failure enables sin to proliferate and defiles sacred space."}

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":"ethics of harm","core_concept":"Adharma is characterized by perverse intellect (vimati) producing fear and disorder; dharma requires niyama/nirodha (restraint) of such agents.","practical_application":"Communities should protect sacred and public goods by lawful restraint of violent offenders; do not normalize intimidation."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Protection of Heritage Sites","Social Harm and Restraint"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka

Geographic Context

Type: sacred sites/heritage landscape

Cross References

Related Themes: 166.16.0 (request for abhaya); 166.18.0 (promise to slay enemy)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Personified tīrthas, alarmed, point toward an unseen wicked king/sinner and plead for restraint.","item_prompts":["fearful tīrtha-deities/ascetics","gesture of warning/pointing","dark silhouette of aggressor in background","disturbed waters/defiled shrine cues"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: expressive wide eyes of frightened tīrthas, dynamic hand gestures; looming dark figure at edge; strong contrast colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: petitioners in gold-rich attire contrasted with a darker, less-ornamented antagonist; emphasis on moral polarity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: narrative clarity—foreground petition, background aggressor near a shrine; restrained drama, elegant lines.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: stormy mood over riverbank; small figures pleading; antagonist as distant rider/king; evocative landscape."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"urgent, admonitory","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-fast","voice_tone":"firm, tense, rising emphasis on ‘sudāruṇaḥ’ and ‘niyacchasva’"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Dharma and Governance
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It illustrates a Purāṇic concern with safeguarding sacred landscapes and communities from violent or exploitative actors, often framed via appeals to a protective authority.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name occurs in this verse; the surrounding unit situates the conflict in the Mathurā region.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The principle is protective governance: harmful agents should be restrained to secure collective welfare.