Varaha Purana 162.4: Adhyaya 162, Shloka 4

The Efficacy and Merit of Cakra-tīrtha

Uttara Bhāga · Tīrtha–Māhātmya (ascetic conduct at a sacred site)

Devanagari script

तत्रासौ वासम् अकरोत् पुण्यसेवी जितेन्द्रियः ॥ तीर्थसेवी तथा स्नायी देवतादर्शने रतः

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 162.4

Transliteration

tatrāsau vāsam akarot puṇyasevī jitendriyaḥ || tīrthasevī tathā snāyī devatādarśane rataḥ

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Tam przyjął on mieszkanie, oddany zasługującym praktykom, opanowany w zmysłach; służący tīrthom, wykonujący rytualne obmycia i nastawiony na oglądanie Bóstwa.

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Word by Word

• tatra: there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (adverbial)
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)

• asau: that man / he
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• vāsam: dwelling / residence
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)

• akarot: made / took up
• Type: Verb
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)

• puṇya-sevī: one devoted to holy deeds
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘puṇyaṃ sevate’ (one who serves/engages in holy acts)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + sevī (सेविन् प्रातिपदिक)

• jita-indriyaḥ: self-controlled (with conquered senses)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहिः ‘jītāni indriyāṇi yasya saḥ’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: jita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)

• tīrtha-sevī: one who frequents holy places
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘tīrthaṃ sevate’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + sevī (सेविन् प्रातिपदिक)

• tathā: and also / likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction/adverb ‘also/likewise’ (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)

• snāyī: one who bathes (regularly)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agent-noun ‘one who bathes’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: snāyin (स्नायिन् प्रातिपदिक)

• devatā-darśane: in the seeing of deities / in deity-visions
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular; सप्तमी in sense of ‘in/with regard to’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘devatānāṃ darśanam’
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)

• rataḥ: devoted / delighting
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past participle (क्त) used adjectivally ‘attached/delighting’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ram)

Sandhi Notes

• tatrāsau → tatra + asau (a+a→ā)
• jitendriyaḥ → jita-indriyaḥ (compound)
• devatādarśane → devatā-darśane (compound)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Bhakti rasaSetting: Tīrtha residence / āśrama-like stay

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Path

Sādhanā Krama

Subjects

EthicsHeritage Sites

Core idea

External sacred acts (snāna, darśana, tīrtha-sevā) bear fruit when grounded in indriya-nigraha and sustained puṇya-sevā.

In practice

While at holy sites, adopt niyamas: restraint, regular bathing/ritual purity, service, and focused worship rather than distraction.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ascetic Ethics
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Pilgrimage Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a normative portrait of tīrtha-based discipline—self-restraint, ritual bathing, and devotional orientation—common in Purāṇic pilgrimage literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

The location is indicated contextually as the tīrtha reached in the prior verse (Śālagrāma).

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Cultivation of self-control (jitendriya) and sustained disciplined conduct at culturally significant sites.