Varaha Purana 81.3 — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 3

Description of the Divine Mountain Abodes: Meru, Devakūṭa, and Kailāsa

Devanagari script

तत्र योऽसौ शान्ताख्यः पर्वतस्तस्योपरि महेन्द्रस्य क्रीडास्थानम्।

Transliteration

tatra yo ’sau śāntākhyaḥ parvatas tasyopari mahendrasya krīḍāsthānam

Translation

Di sana, di atas gunung bernama Śānta, terletak tempat bersuka-ria Mahendra (Indra).

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• yaḥ: who/which
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• asau: that (one)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śānta-ākhyaḥ: named Śānta
• śānta-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) name-compound: 'śānta' + 'ākhya' = 'named Śānta'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parvataḥ: mountain
• parvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of it/of that (mountain)
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upari: upon/above
• upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb/postposition = 'above/on'

• mahendrasya: of Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendrasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• krīḍā-sthānam: playground / place of sport
• krīḍā-sthānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; nominal sentence predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = 'place of play'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Varāha

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":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","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":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

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":"sacred_geography","core_concept":"Deva-līlā is inscribed into landscape; places become mnemonic anchors for dharmic memory and pilgrimage imagination.","practical_application":"Approach tīrtha/topography with reverence; use place-names and their myths as aids for smṛti (remembrance) and restraint (śama) suggested by the name Śānta."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Mythic Topography"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic mountain / divine recreation site

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 81.4.0 (pārijāta-grove nearby); Varāha Purāṇa 81.5.0 (Kuñjara mountain on the east)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene sacred mountain labeled Śānta, with a summit pavilion or pleasure-grove indicating Mahendra’s recreation ground; airy celestial ambience.","item_prompts":["mountain peak with mandapa/pavilion","Indra/Mahendra insignia (vajra, white elephant Airāvata suggested in distance)","cloud bands and apsaras/gandharva silhouettes","inscribed toponym ‘Śānta’ on a rock or banner"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette; stylized blue-grey mountain with ornate summit mandapa; Mahendra suggested iconographically with vajra and regal posture; dense decorative clouds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore composition with gold-leaf haloed summit pavilion; Mahendra’s emblems (vajra, crown) rendered in relief; rich reds/greens and gilded cloud borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore-style delicate linework; soft gradients for mountain and sky; restrained depiction of Mahendra’s krīḍā-sthāna as elegant palace-terrace.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature: layered hills, crisp outlines, pale sky; small jeweled pavilion atop; narrative labels for place-name and deity association."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"descriptive, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Śuddha Sāraṅg (or a calm pentatonic like Mohanam for clear narration)","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, instructive, lightly wonder-struck"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Ancient Geography
• Indra Traditions

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies Purāṇic place-making: mountains are mapped not only physically but also through associated divine narratives that shaped pilgrimage and cultural geography.

Which geographic location is identified?

A mountain called Śānta is named; its precise modern identification is uncertain without corroborating regional traditions or parallel textual witnesses.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Implicitly, it sacralizes landscape by linking it to divine presence, encouraging cultural respect for notable natural features.