Varaha Purana 186.2 — Adhyaya 186, Shloka 2

Ritual Procedure for Installing Silver and Gold Images, and the Special Status of Śālagrāma

Devanagari script

चन्द्रपाण्डुरसङ्काशां सुष्लक्ष्णां निर्व्रणां शुभाम् ।। श्रियायुक्तां मनोज्ञां च दीप्यमानां दिशो दश ॥

Transliteration

candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśāṁ suślakṣṇāṁ nirvraṇāṁ śubhām || śriyā-yuktāṁ manojñāṁ ca dīpyamānāṁ diśo daśa ||

Translation

ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରର ପାଣ୍ଡୁର କାନ୍ତି ସଦୃଶ, ଅତି ସୁମସୃଣ, ଘାଉ-ଚିହ୍ନ ରହିତ, ଶୁଭ; ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ, ମନୋହର ଏବଂ ଦଶ ଦିଗରେ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ।

Word by Word

• candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśām: resembling the pale whiteness of the moon
• candra-pāṇḍura-saṅkāśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषार्थः (resembling moon-like whiteness); विशेषणम्

• suślakṣṇām: very smooth / fine-textured
• suślakṣṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ślakṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• nirvraṇām: without wounds / unscarred
• nirvraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + vraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śubhām: auspicious / beautiful
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śriyā: with splendor / with prosperity
• śriyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yuktām: endowed (with)
• yuktām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (pratimām-विशेषण)

• manojñām: pleasing / delightful
• manojñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; मनोज्ञ = मनसः ज्ञ (pleasing to the mind); विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• dīpyamānām: shining
• dīpyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dīp (दीप् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense) — 'shining'

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्या) विशेषणम्; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनानुगुणम् (agreeing with diśaḥ)

Speaker

Varāha (continued instruction)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Continues Varāha’s iconographic instruction: describes the pratimā’s auspicious radiance and flawless surface qualities."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"attentive/curious","key_question":"What aesthetic signs (lakṣaṇas) indicate an auspicious, ritually fit image—radiance, smoothness, blemishlessness?"}

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":"None","instruction_summary":"The image should be moon-pale in luster, very smooth, unscarred, auspicious, splendid, pleasing, and radiating in all directions.","karmic_consequence":"Auspicious lakṣaṇas support prosperity and successful worship; inauspicious marks imply obstruction and reduced fruit (implied)."}

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":"aesthetics as dharma-support","core_concept":"Beauty and auspiciousness (śubha, śrī) are not mere ornament: they signify harmony and fitness for divine worship.","practical_application":"Maintain icons and ritual objects free from scratches and stains; preserve polish and cleanliness as part of ongoing seva."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Iconography","Material Culture","Aesthetics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-visual field (icon in shrine)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: pratimā-making sequence (186.1–186.3)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A silver icon gleams like moonlight, its smooth surface reflecting light outward as if illuminating all ten directions.","item_prompts":["moonlike sheen on silver","ten-direction radiance rays","spotless smooth surface","aura/tejas around icon","dark shrine backdrop to emphasize glow"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"High-contrast glow against deep colors; stylized rays to ten directions; serene shrine attendants.","tanjore_prompt":"Brilliant metallic highlights; gold-leaf halo and arch; embossed rays indicating ‘disho daśa’.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic sheen and soft aura; balanced composition emphasizing smoothness and auspicious calm.","pahari_prompt":"Poetic moonlit effect; pale silver tones; minimal rays suggested with delicate lines; quiet devotional setting."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"luminous, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani (for brightness)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, slightly elevated to convey radiance"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Iconography (Pratimā aesthetics)
• Sanskrit Poetics (descriptive epithets)

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It captures aesthetic norms for sacred images—smoothness, blemishlessness, and radiance—useful for comparing textual ideals with surviving art-historical specimens.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named; “ten directions” is a cosmological-aesthetic motif.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To cultivate care and excellence in creating cultural-religious artifacts, emphasizing non-damage (nirvraṇa) and auspicious presentation (śubha).