Varaha Purana 196.5: Adhyaya 196, Shloka 5

Description of the City of Dharmarāja

Yama

Devanagari script

कैलासशिखराकारैर्भवनैरुपशोभितम् ॥ तत्र वै विमला नद्यस्तोयपूर्णाः सुशोभनाः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 196.5

Transliteration

kailāsaśikharākārair bhavanair upaśobhitam || tatra vai vimalā nadyas toyapūrṇāḥ suśobhanāḥ

Translation

Dihiasi oleh bangunan yang menyerupai puncak Kailāsa; di sana terdapat sungai-sungai yang suci lagi jernih, indah dipandang, penuh dengan air.

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Word by Word

• kailāsa-śikhara-ākāraiḥ: with forms like the peaks of Kailāsa
• kailāsa-śikhara-ākāraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of bhavanaiḥ): ‘having the form of Kailāsa-peaks’

• bhavanaiḥ: with buildings
• bhavanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• upaśobhitam: adorned; beautified
• upaśobhitam: Kriyā (क्रियापद-विशेषण; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√śubh/√śobh (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि (adorned)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place: 'there')

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात

• vimalāḥ: pure; clear
• vimalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of nadyaḥ)

• nadyaḥ: rivers
• nadyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• toya-pūrṇāḥ: full of water
• toya-pūrṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of nadyaḥ): ‘filled with water’

• su-śobhanāḥ: very beautiful
• su-śobhanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + śobhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of nadyaḥ): ‘very beautiful’

Speaker

Nāciketa (continuation of description)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ancient Geography (mythic)
• Ecological Imagery
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It uses a culturally resonant landmark (Kailāsa) as an aesthetic comparator, showing how Purāṇic texts anchor otherworldly description in shared geographic imagination.

Which geographic location is identified?

Kailāsa is referenced as a comparative image; the primary setting remains Dharmarāja’s mythic city rather than a terrestrial site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse is descriptive; ethically, it contributes to a broader narrative environment where order, purity, and consequence are contemplated.