Varaha Purana 146.47 — Adhyaya 146, Shloka 47

The Greatness of Hṛṣīkeśa at Rurukṣetra: The Origin Narrative of Ruru and the Sacred Site

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तीरेषु विश्रान्तस्तपोभूमिमचिन्तयत् ॥ भृगुतुङ्गं समासाद्य शङ्कराराधने रतः ॥

Transliteration

dr̥ṣṭvā tīreṣu viśrāntas tapobhūmim acintayat || bhr̥gutuṅgaṃ samāsādya śaṅkarārādhane rataḥ ||

Translation

Setelah memandang sekeliling dan berehat di tebing sungai, dia merenungkan bumi yang sesuai untuk tapa. Setelah sampai di Bhṛgu-tuṅga, dia pun tekun dalam ārādhana kepada Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā): 'having seen'

• tīreṣu: on the banks
• tīreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• viśrāntaḥ: rested
• viśrāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—implied ascetic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śram (विश्रम् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'rested'

• tapo-bhūmim: austerity-ground
• tapo-bhūmim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'place/ground of austerity'

• acintayat: he reflected; he thought
• acintayat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-cintay (चिन्तय् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhṛgu-tuṅgam: Bhṛgu’s peak (place)
• bhṛgu-tuṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object—goal of samāsādya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + tuṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'Bhṛgu’s peak/height' (place-name)

• samāsādya: having reached
• samāsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sad (समासद्/आसद् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā/ल्यप् in -ya): 'having reached/approached'

• śaṅkara-ārādhane: in Śaṅkara’s worship
• śaṅkara-ārādhane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक) + ārādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'in the worship of Śaṅkara'

• rataḥ: engaged; devoted
• rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ram (रम् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle with sense 'attached/engaged'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue frame (narrative voice)

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":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

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":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"For spiritual aims, select a proper tapo-bhūmi and engage in īśvara-ārādhana (here Śaṅkara) with steadiness.","karmic_consequence":"Right place and right devotion accelerate purification and grant darśana/siddhi; negligence and distraction dilute the fruit of tapas."}

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":"integration of tapas and īśvara-bhakti","core_concept":"Austerity becomes spiritually fruitful when yoked to devotion and a clear contemplative aim (darśana).","practical_application":"Pair discipline (tapas) with daily worship/meditation; periodically reassess the ‘tapo-bhūmi’—the conditions that support your practice."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Śānta

Secondary Rasa: Bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: hill/peak sacred spot (tuṅga) and riverbank retreat

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 146.53 (tapas for Śiva-darśana; Maheśvara’s satisfaction)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a quiet riverbank, the seeker rests, surveys the terrain, then ascends to Bhṛgu-tuṅga and begins Śiva worship.","item_prompts":["riverbank resting posture","hill/peak labeled Bhṛgu-tuṅga","simple Śiva-liṅga or shrine","offerings (bilva leaves, water)","secluded grove","evening lamp"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized liṅga with bilva, ascetic in worship pose, layered greens, river as decorative curve.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: liṅga and worshipper centered, gold halo-like accents around shrine, rich ornamented border, minimal landscape cues.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined worship scene with detailed puja items, soft chiaroscuro, calm devotional expression.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: small shrine on hillock, river below, delicate trees, intimate puja moment with lyrical space."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional, focused","suggested_raga":"Shivaranjani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"reverent, concentrated"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows how Purāṇic texts integrate pilgrimage topography (banks, hills) with ascetic routines and sectarianly diverse worship practices.

Which geographic location is identified?

Bhr̥gu-tuṅga (a named locality/height) and riverbanks associated with the Gaṇḍakī context from the surrounding verses; modern identification is not fixed without additional manuscript tradition.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Choosing an appropriate environment (tapobhūmi) and sustained focused practice are emphasized.