Varaha Purana 147.4 — Adhyaya 147, Shloka 4

The Sacred Merit of Goniṣkramaṇa

the Tīrtha of the Cows’ Emergence/Release

Devanagari script

गोनिष्क्रमणकं नाम गावो यत्र प्रतारिताः ॥ यथा निष्क्रमणं प्राप्य सुरभीणां वसुन्धरे

Transliteration

goniṣkramaṇakaṁ nāma gāvo yatra pratāritāḥ || yathā niṣkramaṇaṁ prāpya surabhīṇāṁ vasundhare

Translation

Chama-se Goniṣkramaṇaka, ó Vasundharā, onde as vacas foram impelidas adiante; e ali, ao alcançarem uma saída, as vacas Surabhī puderam abrir caminho e sair.

Word by Word

• go-niṣkramaṇakam: (a place called) Go-niṣkramaṇaka
• go-niṣkramaṇakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣkramaṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'cows’ exit/place of going out' (name of a place)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle meaning 'by name/called' (नाम-अव्यय)

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural (बहुवचन)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• pratāritāḥ: were deceived
• pratāritāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√tṝ / √tar (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine Nominative Plural agreeing with gāvaḥ; sense: 'were deceived/led astray'

• yathā: as, in the manner that
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative/illustrative indeclinable (यथार्थक-अव्यय)

• niṣkramaṇam: exit, going out
• niṣkramaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣkramaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular

• prāpya: having reached/obtained
• prāpya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्): 'having obtained/reached'

• surabhīṇām: of the Surabhī cows
• surabhīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surabhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural

• vasundhare: O Earth
• vasundhare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Varāha explains to Vasundharā a named place (Goniṣkramaṇaka) and its pastoral-historical significance, continuing sacred-geography instruction."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, receptive","key_question":"What is Goniṣkramaṇaka and why is it remembered as the ‘exit/outlet’ where Surabhī cows were driven and found passage?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Goniṣkramaṇaka (a named locality associated with cattle movement)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"Indirect pastoral resonance only (cow-culture), but no explicit Kṛṣṇa link in the verse."}

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":"dharma-ecology / cultural memory","core_concept":"Land is sanctified not only by gods and sages but also by life-sustaining pastoral events; naming preserves dharmic relationship between humans, animals, and terrain.","practical_application":"Protect grazing routes, water access, and animal welfare; treat culturally remembered ecological corridors as heritage worthy of care."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Ecology"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral passage/route; possibly a gorge, pass, or opening associated with cattle movement

Cross References

Related Themes: Sacred place-name explanations (nāma-nirukti) in surrounding geography sections

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A landscape opening or pass labeled Goniṣkramaṇaka, with a herd of cows being guided toward an ‘exit’—a symbolic release into open pasture—while Varāha narrates to Bhūmi.","item_prompts":["herd of Surabhī cows","cowherds guiding cattle","a visible ‘outlet’/opening in terrain (pass/cave-mouth/gorge)","Varāha as narrator at side","Bhūmi observing"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: rhythmic procession of cows; stylized green terrain with a clear opening; Varāha and Bhūmi in iconic side panel; warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central cow procession with gold accents on ornaments; embossed arch-like ‘exit’; Varāha/Bhūmi with gold halos; rich textile patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined cattle anatomy, gentle pastoral mood; soft landscape gradients; Varāha’s calm explanatory gesture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: charming pastoral vignette; rolling hills and a narrow pass; delicate figures and expressive cows; light, airy colors."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative, pastoral, gently reverent","suggested_raga":"Raga Desh (or a serene folk-tinged raga)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"warm, descriptive, story-telling"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ancient Geography
• Pastoral Culture
• Cultural Heritage

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves an etymological explanation for a toponym, linking place-memory to pastoral life—an important feature of Purāṇic sacred geography.

Which geographic location is identified?

A site named Goniṣkramaṇaka (Goniṣkrama) is identified; its exact modern correlate is not determinable from this excerpt alone.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The narrative frames non-human life (cattle) as integral to the meaning of place, supporting a cultural ethic of attention to living landscapes.