Varaha Purana 97.23: Adhyaya 97, Shloka 23

The Glory of Rudra: The Origin of the Kapālamocana Pilgrimage Site and Rudra’s Expiatory Vow

Pūrva Bhāga · Tīrtha-māhātmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Narratives)

Devanagari script

ततोऽन्यद्वर्षमेकं तु वर्तते हिमवद्गिरौ॥ भ्रमतो विभ्रमो जातस्त्रिणेत्रस्य महात्मनः॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 97.23

Transliteration

tato 'nya(d)-varṣam ekaṃ tu varttate himavad-girau || bhramato vibhramo jātas triṇetrasya mahātmanaḥ ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Kemudian untuk setahun lagi baginda tinggal di Gunung Himavat. Ketika mengembara, kekeliruan timbul dalam diri Yang Bermata Tiga, sang Mahātmā.

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Word by Word

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय, तदनन्तरम् (then/thereupon)
• Role: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• अन्यत्: another
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; वर्षम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म/कालाधिकरण (Qualifier of time-extent)
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• वर्षम्: year
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाणम्
• Role: कर्म/कालाधिकरण (Extent of time)
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)

• एकम्: one
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्षम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म/कालाधिकरण (Qualifier of time-extent)
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)

• तु: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)
• Role: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Root: तु (अव्यय)

• वर्तते: continued / went on
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘continues/exists’
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Root: √वृत् (वृत् धातु)

• हिमवद्गिरौ: on Himavat mountain
• Type: Noun
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘of Himavat’ + ‘mountain’), पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन
• Role: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Root: हिमवत् + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)

• भ्रमतः: of (him) wandering
• Type: Adjective
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), √भ्रम्, पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; त्रिणेत्रस्य इत्यस्य विशेषणभावः—‘of the wandering (one)’
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Root: भ्रमत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भ्रम् धातु)

• विभ्रमः: bewilderment / confusion
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Root: विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)

• जातः: arisen
• Type: Adjective
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), √जन्, पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विभ्रमः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Root: जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन् धातु)

• त्रिणेत्रस्य: of the three-eyed one (Śiva)
• Type: Noun
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘three-eyed’), पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Root: त्रि + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• Type: Noun
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् + आत्मन्), पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; त्रिणेत्रस्य इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• tato 'nya(d)-varṣam = ततः + अन्यत् + वर्षम् (त् + व् संयोगः)
• himavad-girau = हिमवत् + गिरौ (समास)
• jātas triṇetrasya = जातः + त्रिणेत्रस्य (विसर्ग-लोपः)

Speaker and setting

Karuna and Bhayanaka rasaSetting: Sacred mountain / ascetic retreat

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Concerned curiosity (implied) as the narrative turns to psychological turmoil

What she asks

What happens when even a great deity’s efforts fail—how does confusion arise, and what resolves it?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Psychology of sādhanā

Subjects

Sacred GeographyAscetic NarrativePsychological StatesMountain Landscapes

Core idea

Spiritual striving can encounter confusion when methods are mismatched to the problem; greatness does not exempt one from process.

In practice

When practice yields agitation, reassess means, seek instruction, and align remedy to the specific doṣa rather than intensifying blindly.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

Varāha narrates; Bhū-devī remains the addressed listener.

Symbolism of the boar

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa
• Pilgrimage Narratives
• Śaiva Motifs

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records an interior state (vibhrama) within a pilgrimage frame, showing that Purāṇic tīrtha narratives can include psychological and moral tension, not only place lists.

Which geographic location is identified?

Himavat (Himalayan region), again functioning as a mythic-geographic anchor.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It highlights that prolonged striving can produce disorientation, implicitly valuing steadiness and guidance in disciplined practice.