Varaha Purana 154.17 — Adhyaya 154, Shloka 17

The Efficacy of Yamunā River Pilgrimage Sites

Merits of Mathurā-Region Tīrthas

Devanagari script

पुनरन्यत् प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे ॥ तीर्थानामुत्तमं तीर्थं ब्रह्मलोकेषु विश्रुतम् ॥

Transliteration

punar anyat pravakṣyāmi tac chṛṇuṣva vasundhare || tīrthānām uttamaṁ tīrthaṁ brahmalokeṣu viśrutam ||

Translation

Снова возвещу иное; слушай, о Васундхара. Есть тиртха — наивысшая среди тиртх, прославленная в мирах Брахмы.

Word by Word

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• anyat: another (thing)
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain/tell
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śṛṇuṣva: listen
• śṛṇuṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• vasundhare: O Earth (Vasundharā)
• vasundhare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• tīrthānām: of pilgrim-places
• tīrthānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• uttamam: best
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying tīrtham

• tīrtham: pilgrimage place
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmalokeṣu: in the worlds of Brahmā
• brahmalokeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa: brahmaṇaḥ lokaḥ (ब्रह्मणः लोकः)

• viśrutam: well-known
• viśrutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi+śru (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying tīrtham

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Direct address to Vasundharā (‘listen’)—Varāha as teacher guiding Earth through a catalogue of supreme tīrthas."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, eager to hear","key_question":"What is the next supreme tīrtha, famed even in Brahmā’s worlds, and what makes it foremost?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Unnamed ‘uttama tīrtha’ (to be described next)","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":"śravaṇa as sādhana","core_concept":"Hearing (śravaṇa) sacred teaching is itself a preparatory act; revelation unfolds progressively through attentive listening.","practical_application":"Adopt disciplined listening and retention during tīrtha narratives; let knowledge guide practice rather than mere travel."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Sacred Geography","Cosmology","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (foremost pilgrimage site)

Cross References

Related Themes: 154.14.0; 154.15.0; 154.16.0; 154.17.0

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha addressing Vasundharā, beginning a new revelation about the foremost tīrtha; the background hints at cosmic tiers up to Brahmaloka.","item_prompts":["Varāha in teaching posture","Bhūdevī/Vasundharā seated listening","scroll/gesture of narration","cosmic layered worlds","Brahmaloka hint (lotus/throne imagery)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Varāha and Bhūdevī in formal dialogue; behind them, stylized cosmic lotuses indicating Brahmaloka; ornate frame and saturated colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf halos for Varāha and Bhūdevī; upper background with lotus-seat Brahmā silhouette; rich temple-arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: calm didactic tableau; fine jewelry and textiles; subtle cosmic backdrop with lotus motifs; emphasis on facial expression of attentive listening.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate teacher-disciple scene in a landscape; clouds forming layered lokas; delicate lotus symbols for Brahmaloka; crisp linework."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"invitational, didactic","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"measured, instructive, with a gentle lift on ‘śṛṇuṣva vasundhare’ and ‘brahmalokeṣu viśrutam’."}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It signals a catalog-like structure typical of māhātmya sections, where sites are introduced sequentially and ranked.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific toponym appears in this verse; it introduces an upcoming tīrtha described as famous even in Brahmaloka contexts.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Attentive listening and disciplined engagement with teachings about place-based practices is foregrounded.